Ireland could charge migrants for food and WiFi in major new crackdown | World | News
Ireland is weighing up plans to charge asylum seekers with jobs up to €238 (£200) a week for state accommodation and other services including WiFi.
Ministers are considering the move amid concerns that the terms offered to migrants in the Republic of Ireland are more generous than in other major European nations, the Irish Independent reports.
Asylum seekers in the direct provision system receive €38.80 (£32.58) a week per adult and €29.80 (£25.02) per child, and aren’t permitted to work in the country until after six months since a first decision on their application, according to The Irish Examiner.
European Union rules allow member countries to ask for between €15 (£12.59) to €238 a week from asylum seekers in employment, with the figure dependent on their income.
Under the plans, those seeking international protection who find a job, but continue to live in State housing, could also have to pay for internet access, food and other services.
Senior officials have compiled a report for the government on a range of options and said it would take up to two years to bring in a contributions system because new protocols and technology would be needed.
France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Hungary already have similar schemes.
But the group said countries had varying income limits, while wages were, in the main, self-declared. The news comes after Taoiseach Simon Harris said last week he wants asylum-seekers with jobs to make a contribution towards the accodomation provided by the state.
It follows a string of anti-migrant arson attacks and protests in the country earlier this year, and the number of asylum seekers almost doubled in the first six months of 2024, compared to the same period last year.
Ireland is also facing a housing crisis, with the population growing at a rate of almost four people for every new home built, according to a report by property firm Savills.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, County Laois on Thursday, Mr Harris said formal proposals on the issue haven’t yet been received, but he believes there’s “serious merit” in considering it.
He told attendees that a fair and “common sense” approach is important in order “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,” Mr Harris said.
He added: “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.”
Mr Harris said he a decision to be made in the weeks ahead about how those in the international protection system could contribute towards the services they receive.
