It has emerged that most of the Syrian refugees who have come to Ireland under the resettlement programme have not been receiving full social welfare payments while they undergo orientation.
The Irish Refugee Council said they are being denied their legal entitlements and back dated payments should now be made.
The Department of Social Protection said full social welfare rates are applied only after a three-month programme is complete.
It is understood that along with some payments including child benefit, the refugees are receiving weekly Direct Provision rates of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child.
The Council said the refugees are legal entitled to full social welfare payment rates like the weekly €188 Jobseeker's Allowance.
Irish Refugee Council CEO Sue Conlan said the full amounts should be applied and back-pay should be awarded.
So far this year 129 refugees have arrived in the country from camps in Jordan and Lebanon and have participated in language training and orientation programmes.
48 of them have now completed the programmes and have been moved to permanent accommodation in local authority housing in Thurles, Portlaoise, Killarney and Tralee.
A further 62 refugees are expected to arrive in Ireland before the end of the year.
The Department of Social Protection has said full social welfare rates are applied once the three-month orientation and language training is complete.
It said the rates are reduced to take account of the cost of food and board.
The department also said that it can make Exceptional Needs Payments to help meet essential once off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of its weekly income.
