€10,000 To Return Home: Cash Offer Being Considered For Asylum Seekers

Saturday, 27 September 2025 15:56

By Martin Osborne - Head of News. Got a story? Email news@kfmradio.com

It's a measure being considered by the Justice Minister.

Asylum seekers could be offered 2,500 euro each, or up to 10,000 euro per family, to drop their claim and return home.

The move is reportedly under consideration by the Justice Minister as part of reforms to Ireland's asylum system.

The Department of Justice has calculated that the State spends around €122,000 on each international protection applicant. The figure reflects a combination of expenses such as housing and daily meals, welfare supports, medical treatment, and educational services.

Last year, the Government spent just over €1 billion on housing international protection applicants - up from close to €652 million in 2023.

The Citywest Hotel in Saggart, run by Cape Wrath Hotel Unlimited, received the largest amount of money from the Government last year to accommodate asylum seekers.

It received over €53 million between January and September 2024.

Several properties in Kildare linked to the Coldec Group have also raked in millions of euro over the past couple of years.

The owner of the 18th-century protected Ryevale House, used to house female refugees, has taken in around €3.79m of euro in state payments since May 2023.

Since 2022, The Celbridge Manor Hotel took in €12.6 million.

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