Eamon Ó Cuiv says social welfare for asylum seekers is too low but shouldn’t be full rate

Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuiv says social welfare rate for asylum seekers is too low, but he agrees it shouldn't match job seeker's allowance.

Over 9,000 adult asylum-seekers get only 5 euro and 50 cents a day, while a further two thousand children, who also live in direct provision, get the equivalent of 4.25 a day.  

Over the course of a week, it equates to just under 39 euro per adult, and less than 30 euro per child. 

Deputy Ó Cuiv, who is on the Oireachtas social protection committee, says the payments shouldn't be the full rate of 220 euro a week.