Immigrants will soon be asked to pay for state-provided services in a further tightening of supports for asylum-seekers and refugees, Taoiseach Simon Harris has told the Sunday Independent.
The Government previously considered plans to charge immigrants rent.
Now, it has emerged that senior ministers will look at proposals to charge for other state-provided services in the coming months as part of efforts to bring Ireland in line with other EU countries.
Asylum-seekers are currently entitled to medical cards, which has been questioned by opposition politicians. Sinn Féin has stated in recent months that the granting of medical cards should be means-tested.
"I do think there is a broader question around the supports we offer that we need to consider as we get into the autumn,” said Mr Harris in an interview in Paris, where he is attending the Olympic Games.
Elaborating on what that broader question is, he said it relates to "the level of contribution somebody may be asked to make in relation to something that the State may provide”.
When asked if the new plans would include rent charges, he said: "That's one thing that we could give consideration to.
"Anything we do will have to be legal and in line with our humanitarian obligations, because people do have a legal and humanitarian entitlement to shelter, too.”
The Government is not yet "finished” with its review of the supports given to asylum-seekers and refugees, he said.
"I think we need to continue to monitor it. We need to make sure the system is sustainable and grounded in common sense and not out of kilter with any other country, too.”
He said the "first phase” of the welfare review for asylum-seekers and refugees has taken place. This led to thousands of Ukrainians who live in Ireland having their welfare cut. A means test was also introduced for asylum-seekers.
"I'm eager that we continue that conversation,” he said.
Mr Harris said the new plans will be considered in either September or October.
Thousands of asylum-seekers had their welfare cut in recent weeks after Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys put a means test in place.
The Taoiseach said the immigration system has developed in "real time”, with the annual number of asylum-seekers going from 3,000 to over 20,000.
"When I became Taoiseach, I made it very clear I wanted two things in place when it came to migration — compassion and common sense. People are compassionate, it's not a nasty country.
"We're a welcoming country, we want to help, we want to be decent, we want to be humanitarian. But we also want to make sure there is common sense.”
