New plan requires asylum seekers to contribute up to 40 percent of income for accommodation funding
Asylum seekers in Ireland may soon be required to contribute up to 40% of their weekly income towards accommodation costs. This proposal, under consideration by the Government, aims to address ongoing accommodation capacity issues.
Proposed Asylum Contribution Structure
The scheme suggests different payment thresholds based on income levels:
- Individuals earning over €600 weekly could pay a maximum charge of €238.
- Those earning between €340 and €405 would contribute €119, representing 35% to 29% of their income.
- For earners between €97 and €150, the weekly charge would be €15, translating to approximately 15.5% to 10% of their total income.
Government Objectives and Rationale
The initiative, backed by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, reflects the Coalition’s goal of tightening conditions for asylum seekers. The ongoing pressure on housing resources has encouraged these discussions, despite a decrease in application numbers compared to the previous year.
O’Callaghan emphasized the need to reduce the number of international protection applications, which have totaled around 13,000 this year. He signaled that any changes in UK asylum laws could lead to increased applications in Ireland, warranting further governmental evaluation.
Family Reunification and Residency Changes
In addition to accommodation payments, ministers are set to review more restrictive family reunification rules. These adjustments aim to decrease the number of individuals entering Ireland through this route. Furthermore, the residency requirement for citizenship for refugees may extend from three to five years.
Projected Impact of the Changes
The government anticipates that approximately 7,600 people will be subject to these new charges once implemented. However, these measures are not expected to generate profit due to associated set-up and operational costs. Authorities remain optimistic that applicant numbers might decline further with the implementation of the EU’s new migration and asylum pact.
