Over 11,300 asylum-seekers get less than 40 euros a week in social welfare from the state.
The state provides only €5.50 per day in social welfare to more than 9,300 adult asylum seekers.
Another 2,000 kids who are in direct provision receive the daily equivalent of €4.25 each.
The Daily Expenses Allowance, which is given to asylum seekers who reside in direct provision centres, is managed by the Department of Social Protection.
The weekly rates are currently €38.80 for adults and €29.80 for kids.
This payment was made at the end of December for 2,005 children and 9,303 adults.
The rates are considerably less than the weekly payment of €220 for the job seeker’s allowance.
TD for the Fianna Fáil party Eamon Cuiv said he believes the current rate is too low but agreed with the idea that recipients shouldn’t receive the full rate.
“If you pay the full rate plus free boarding then the logic of that situation is that you would be better off in direct provision than somebody who is in receipt of jobseekers’ allowance and is living here all their life,” he said.
“The reality in their case is that they have to pay for the food and they have to pay for their board.”
For those fleeing the Ukraine war who are eligible for the full rates of social welfare, the Daily Expenses Allowance does not apply.