Working asylum seekers to pay up to 40pc of weekly income towards accommodation costs under new plan

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Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan (Conor O Mearain/PA)

Working asylum seekers may have to pay between 10pc and 40pc of their weekly income towards the costs of their State accommodation, under a new plan being considered by Cabinet tomorrow, as first reported by the Irish Independent.

The proposal would see those with a weekly income of up to €150 pay €15.

A person earning up to €340 a week would contribute €83, while someone on a weekly income of €600 or more would pay €238.

The new model could be up-and-running by next year, should it be approved by Cabinet ministers.

The proposal has been brought forward by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and junior minister for migration Colm Brophy.

The change is one of three measures being brought before Cabinet on Wednesday. The others would see rules around family reunification tighten, and the residency requirement for citizenship go from three years to five years.

Speaking at the G20 summit in South Africa on Sunday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the changes to Ireland’s immigration system would represent “a modest enough overhaul, but an important one”.

“It’s fair and it’s robust and it’s also aligning with what’s happening elsewhere,” he said.

Mr Martin said Ireland has always taken a “humanitarian approach”, but there is “a necessary tightening” required of the asylum and citizenship processes.

“And that’s in essence, what is envisaged by these reforms,” he said.

“They did come before the party leaders and also before the Cabinet subcommittee. So we’ve discussed these in relative detail, but we will work through these as the legislation comes in.”

The Taoiseach said Ireland cannot be “an outlier in terms of benefits and so on, compared to other jurisdictions”, adding that there are “knock-on effects” for Ireland from reforms made in other countries.