Coalition plans major review of welfare supports for asylum-seekers

There are concerns in the Coalition that Ireland has become a “soft spot” for migrants due to generous welfare entitlements and easy access to employment.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has now ordered a review of all state supports for asylum-seekers and refugees to ensure Ireland is not an outlier when it comes to welfare and accommodation for migrants.

Harris says he is working to “pull levers” in government departments

The review will come in tandem with an increase in workplace inspections to ensure all employees have permits to work.

Writing in today’s Sunday Independent, Taoiseach Simon Harris says he is working to “pull levers” in government departments to “ensure Ireland adopts a firmer system, and ensures we are not out of kilter with other EU countries”.

He adds: “This will not be a long drawn-out process. The Government will take decisions on this soon.”

The Sunday Independent also understands the Government is running out of military-style tents and migrants will soon have to obtain their own tents when staying on state-provided land.

Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman said yesterday it would be months before the State could provide accommodation to newly arrived ­asylum-seekers.

“I believe in the next number of months we’ll be in a position to say with confidence that everybody who requires an offer of accommodation can get one, and that’s what we’re working to achieve across government,” the minister said on Newstalk.

Mr O’Gorman also said that while the Government is working to build up accommodation facilities, state land — such as that currently being used in Crooksling — will continue to be used.

“It’s the delivery of that state land that was really important in terms of us being able to offer accommodation to these people” the minister said.

“And in the short-term, the use of state land is going to continue to be important, in terms of allowing us to provide this.”

Harris says an increasing number of asylum-seekers are working illegally

Meanwhile, the Coalition is focusing on reviewing so-called pull factors that they fear are attracting economic migrants.

“All supports for asylum-seekers and Ukrainians have to be looked at because we are still very generous compared to other European state,” a senior government source said.

Another senior source said decisions on payments and accommodation will be coming “very soon”, with further proposals later in the month.

The State currently gives a weekly payment of €38.80 to all adult ­asylum-seekers and €29.80 per child. They are also entitled to a full medical card and state-provided accommodation.

A further payment of €75 is provided to asylum-seekers who are not provided with accommodation.

However, this payment is not being reviewed, as it was introduced following a legal challenge due to the lack of supports previously provided by the State for homeless asylum-seekers.

New Ukrainian refugees are given state accommodation for three months, and since March have been given €38.80 a week.

The provision of medical cards is not being reviewed

However, Ukrainians who arrived before then were entitled to the same welfare payments as Irish citizens, plus a full medical card.

​Government sources said the provision of medical cards was not being reviewed, but payments will be examined.

Another central element of the new immigration strategy will be to target employers who hire asylum-seekers without work permits.

The Government believes there is an increasing number of asylum-seekers working illegally in various sectors, including construction and hospitality.

A stricter regime of inspections is being planned to ensure anyone working in Ireland has the legal documentation to do so.

Asylum-seekers can apply for work permits five months after they arrive if their case has not been progressed — and in most cases it has not. This five-month period may be extended to discourage migrants to come to Ireland.