Author
The Reception Conditions Regulations 2018 define “material reception conditions” as: (a) housing, food and associated in-kind benefits; (b) the daily expenses allowance; and (c) financial allowance for clothing.[1]
Daily expenses allowance
The Direct Provision allowance, referred to as the daily expenses allowance under the Reception Conditions Regulations, is a payment made to protection applicants for personal and incidental expenses. The rate of the payment remained static until 2019 and was consistently the subject of criticism, including by the McMahon Working Group. The criticism stated that the weekly allowance was wholly inadequate to meet essential needs such as clothing including for school going children and it did not enable participation in social and community activities.[2] A group of migrant advocacy organisations called for the daily expenses allowance to be increased during the pandemic. This request was refused. Further calls in 2023[3] to increase the DEA in line with inflation also have not received a positive response. Research commissioned by the Irish Refugee Council in October 2023 demonstrated the inadequacy of the Daily Expenses Allowance in covering basic needs of families and children living in Direct Provision. The research determined that basic needs were often unmet. Insufficient nutritional support, transportation limitations, partial healthcare coverage, a lack of organised leisure activities, and difficulties accessing essential amenities were among issues facing participants.[4]
In November 2025, the Department of Justice proposed significant policy changes aimed at requiring international protection applicants resident in IPAS centres who are engaged in paid employment to make financial contributions toward the cost of their accommodation. The proposed contribution model is means-tested, and applicants will be required to contribute based on their weekly earnings. Those earning up to approximately €150 per week would pay a relatively modest contribution (e.g., €15 weekly). Contributions increase with higher earnings, with those earning more than €600 per week facing weekly charges of up to €238.[5] The Irish Refugee Council criticised the changes, noting that many applicants residing in IPAS centres are in part-time or precarious employment, moving in and out of work, and supporting their families on very limited incomes. It was further emphasised that it is unreasonable to expect people to contribute financially when the accommodation they are placed in is often of substandard and poor quality.[6]
As of January 2026, protection applicants received a weekly allowance of € 38.80 per adult and € 29.80 per child.
Other financial support
Section 15 of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009 states that an individual who does not have a “right to reside” in the State shall not be regarded as being habitually resident in the State. As protection applicants do not have a right to reside in Ireland, they are excluded from social welfare. Under the IPA this prohibition remains unless a person has a pre-existing right to work on their previous status in Ireland.
The Working Group report noted that “apart from the weekly allowance, residents are not eligible to apply for other social protection supports with the exception of Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance”.[7]
The Exceptional Needs Payment is a discretionary payment made by a Welfare Officer on receipt of an application for a one-off payment, rather than an ongoing liability. It is relied upon by protection applicants because it is an exception to the general rule regarding habitual residence. For example, it is often the only way to pay for transport costs. However, it is a highly discretionary payment with a limited appeals mechanism. In the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, there is anecdotal evidence that there can be wide differences in how the Exceptional Needs Payment is administered, depending on which centre the asylum applicant is living in.
In July 2023, the Irish Refugee Council called upon the Government to permit access to child benefit for children living in Direct Provision.[8] The Government subsequently committed to introducing an International Protection Child Payment (IPCP) of approximately €140 per month, securing €4.7 million in Budget 2024 for the purposes of establishing the payment.[9] Despite this commitment, as well as calls from numerous concerned organisations since, as of January 2026, no such payment had been implemented.
Additionally, in May 2023, the Irish Refugee Council called for an increase in the weekly payment of €38.80 to unaccommodated international protection applicants, asserting that the payment was completely insufficient to meet a person’s basic needs while experiencing homelessness.[10] Subsequently, in December 2023, following the announcement by the International Protection Service that it was no longer in a position to position to provide beds for all international protection applicants due to a “severe shortage” of accommodation, the State increased the DEA for unaccommodated protection applicants by €75.00 per week, bringing to €113.80 the total weekly payment made to unaccommodated international protection applicants.
[1] Regulation 2 Reception Conditions Regulations 2018.
[2] Working Group to report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, Final Report June 2015, para 5.30, 208.
[3] Irish Refugee Council, Budget 2024 submission, ‘Addressing poverty in Direct Provision’, July 2023, available here.
[4] Irish Refugee Council, ‘Living in International Protection Accommodation: Exploring the Experiences of Families and Children in Direct Provision’, 5 October 2023, available here.
[5] The Journal, ‘Asylum-seekers with jobs will be required to pay towards their accommodation under new plans’, 3rd November 2025, available here.
[6] Irish Refugee Council, ‘Policy changes will keep families apart and push refugees further into the margins of our Society’, 3rd December 2025, available here.
[7] Working Group to report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, Final Report June 2015, para 5.5, 203.
[8] Irish Refugee Council, Budget 2024 submission, ‘Addressing poverty in Direct Provision’, July 2023, available here.
[9] Irish Times, ‘Almost 9,000 children in direct provision not eligible for double child benefit payment’, 29 October 2024, available here.
[10] Irish Refugee Council, ‘Now I live on the road: The Experience of Homeless International Protection Applicants in Ireland, June 2023, available here.