Working asylum-seekers could be charged for using state accommodationTaoiseach wants to see contribution from those who are earning
People seeking international protection who gain employment, but are still housed by the State, could also be charged for wifi, food and other services as part of a new government plan to secure financial contributions from asylum-seekers.
A senior group of officials prepared a report for the Coalition on a range of options. The group said it would take between one and two years to introduce a contributions system because new technology and protocols would be required.
Similar contribution mechanisms have been rolled out in France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Hungary.
However, the group said income limits varied by country and wages were mainly self-declared by asylum-seekers.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois today, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the Government has not yet received formal proposals on the issue but believes there is “serious merit” in considering it.
Mr Harris said he would want asylum-seekers earning an income to make a contribution to their state-provided accommodation.
“This is a compassionate country, we are a better people for migration. Immigration is a good thing so let me be very clear about that. Supporting people who come here in a vulnerable situation is not just an important thing to do, it’s an international obligation,” he said.
“There are laws and rules around this and Ireland will always abide by that but we do need to keep this issue under review and alongside compassion.
“There does need to be common sense and there are people who are in our asylum systems who have a right to work – many of them do work – and we thank them for that and they make a contribution to society as well.
“But I think Irish people believe that if you’re working and earning a decent wage and it’s means tested that it’s not unreasonable to ask you to contribute to some of the services you receive from Ireland.
He said he believes that fairness and a “common sense” approach to the issue is important “to maintain social cohesion, to continue to ensure the centre holds on this issue”.
“I believe it would be common sense to make sure that if you are earning money, if you have an income above and beyond the €38 per week of an income and that income is means tested, you should be asked to contribute something.
“I do think it’s fair, though, that if you’re working and earning an income that you make some kind of contribution towards the services the State is providing,” he added.
Mr Harris said he expected the Government to make a decision in the coming weeks on how people in the international protection system could contribute.
EU states are allowed to seek €15 a week from asylum-seekers earning between €97 and €150 a week
Group proposals outline how EU directives allow member states to seek a financial contribution from people seeking international protection, based on how much money they are earning while in the asylum process.
The 2018 European Communities Regulations, which have never been implemented by the Irish Government, allow EU states to seek a contribution of €15 a week from asylum-seekers earning between €97 and €150 a week.
An increasing scale of contributions goes as high as €238 for an international protection applicant earning more than €600 a week.
The group also suggested a licensing agreement could be introduced to secure payment from asylum-seekers who are receiving services such as free wifi or food from the State.
There are concerns about charging asylum-seekers rent for accommodation due to complexities around the State becoming a landlord.
The senior officials told the Government that asylum-seekers who are granted status in Ireland stay in state accommodation far longer than they do in other EU member states.
The report said that in most EU countries people who were granted asylum would leave state-provide accommodation after between two and four months.
In Ireland, people who are granted status to stay are not technically entitled to remain in International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) accommodation.
However, Ipas allows families to remain in its accommodation for two years and single people can stay for nine months.
After those periods, they are moved to emergency accommodation and have the same entitlements as Irish citizens when it comes to housing. This includes access to the Housing Assistant Payment, and they can also put their name on local authority housing lists.