The Minister for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth, Roderick O’Gorman has confirmed that the costs in relation to transporting asylum applicants to reception centres, accommodation centres and emergency accommodation located throughout the State from 2011 to 2021 currently stands at €2.4 million.
The information was supplied following a parliamentary question on the matter from the Independent TD for Laois Offaly and member of the Rural Independent Group, Carol Nolan.
2021 was the most expensive year to date, with Minister O’Gorman confirming that €638,000 was spent on taxis and private transport last year alone.
This contrasts with the €68,000 costs incurred in 2011, which represents an increase of €570,000 over the period of time covered by the parliamentary question.
The year with the second highest rate of costs was 2019 with over a half a million being spent on transport of this kind (€579,000) while in 2020 costs of €479,000 were incurred.
The information comes to light after the Irish Independent recently reported that three men from Palestine who are seeking asylum in Ireland were driven from Dublin Airport by taxi to Claremorris in Mayo at a cost of €500 to the taxpayer.
Year Cost
2011 €0.068m
2012 €0.071m
2013 €0.036m
2014 €0.046m
2015 €0.103m
2016 €0.129m
2017 €0.093m
2018 €0.182m
2019 €0.579m
2020 €0.479m
2021 €0.638m
Total €2.424m
Loading ...