Asylum seekers to pay up to 40% of income to fund accommodation under new plan

Ellen O'Donoghue

Asylum seekers who work may have to pay up to 40 per cent of the cost of their State-provided accommodation.

It is one of a series of proposals Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will bring to cabinet on Wednesday as efforts are made to tighten the rules around international protection.

These latest proposed changes come as the UK amends its law around International Protection.

According to the Irish Times, the plan could see asylum seekers earning between €97 and €150 a week pay a charge of €15 weekly, equivalent to between 15.5 and 10 per cent of their income, while those earning between €340 and €405 would have to contribute a weekly charge of €119.

The highest level under consideration will be €238 weekly for those who earn more than €600 per week, meaning someone earning slightly over this level will pay almost 40 per cent of their wages, with lower charges implemented depending on how much a person earns.

The moves are to be considered as the Coalition looks to tighten conditions afforded to those seeking protection here amid ongoing pressure on accommodation capacity, even though numbers have declined from last year.

Government projections are that about 7,600 people will be eligible to pay a charge next year when it comes into effect.

That number, the Coalition hopes, will fall in the coming years if fewer people enter the system. The Government believes figures are likely to fall in the coming years once the EU’s new migration and asylum pact is implemented.

Measures to restrict family reunification will also be discussed by Ministers at their weekly meeting on Wednesday.