Immigrant benefit cuts: Justice, Finance refuse to comment

The Justice and Finance Departments have refused to comment on weekend speculation that measures will be introduced in the Budget to cut welfare payments to asylum seekers.

A Sunday newspaper speculated yesterday that measures will be included to cut the multi-million Euro immigrant welfare bill.

The cost of providing care to immigrants is now around €300m per year and a cause of concern to the Government.

An official with the Dept of Justice would only say that a cabinet sub-committee is aware of the issue and is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on a citizenship case.