Sir, – Carl O’Brien’s excellent report “Lives in Limbo” (August 9th) paints a disturbing picture of the treatment of asylum seekers in direct provision: their poverty, isolation and demoralising lack of power to take important decisions for themselves.
The whole system needs to be changed so that no one has to spend more than a few months in such conditions and so that anyone whose asylum/protection application takes more than 12 months to determine is given the right to work here. But in the meantime one measure that would immediately improve the position of the around 1,650 children currently in the system would be to restore the payment of child benefit. This is a non-means-tested payment, described by Government as a “universal” benefit, that is paid in respect of all children, rich and poor, and whether they need it or not. Except that it is not paid in respect of the children of asylum-seekers, who definitely do need it.
Children in direct provision, including these born in Ireland, currently receive the Scrooge-like sum of €9.60 per week, totally inadequate to pay for games, treats, school excursions etc, which marks them off from the other children at school or elsewhere, whose parents can afford these things. Child benefit is only €32.50 per week; not a large sum, but it would make a big difference to these children. And since the number of children involved is only 1,650, it would not impose a huge burden on the State.
Successive justice ministers have justified not paying regular social welfare benefits to asylum-seekers on the basis that it would create a “pull” factor, attracting greater numbers to our shores. But in the case of children in the direct provision system, who are deprived of something all their peers in the country are getting, it appears that they are being punished not for anything they did but to deter others. That cannot be right. Child benefit should be restored to them now. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL FARRELL,
Free Legal Advice Centres,
Lower Dorset Street,
Dublin 1
Sir, – May I thank your paper, and in particular Carl O’Brien, for drawing attention to the degrading, dehumanising and inappropriate manner in which the Irish State holds 4,360 asylum seekers. A new system, which prioritises the human rights of this group of people, rather than profit and convenience, needs to be introduced as a matter of urgency. – Yours, etc,
DONAL MOORE,
Ferrybank,
Waterford