Overview
- Proposed tiers would see weekly charges such as €15 for income up to €150, €83 for up to €340, and €238 for €600 or more.
- Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan is bringing the three-part package to ministers, with the contribution system targeted to start next year if approved.
- Department of Justice figures indicate about 7,600 people in IPAS would have been eligible to pay, with the eligible pool expected to shrink once the EU migration pact takes effect next June.
- The package also seeks stricter family reunification rules and an increase in the citizenship residency requirement from three to five years.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin describes the reforms as necessary tightening within a humanitarian approach, while the Irish Refugee Council calls the proposals deeply alarming.