LAST UPDATE | 12 Dec 2023
SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS for new arrivals from Ukraine who avail of accommodation from the state will receive €38.80 per week under new plans approved by Cabinet today.
In addition, a new 90-day limit for state accommodation for new arrivals will also be imposed.
The reduced subsistence payment will be made for the 90-day period, with an additional payment of €29.80 per child per week.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the legislation to bring about the changes will be published next year with a view to enactment by the end of January.
The reduction of the payment is a recognition of the fact that the state is providing accommodation, as well as heat and light, he said.
During the 90-day period authorities will work with asylum seekers and NGOs to assist them to find their own accommodation as well as employment.
After the 90 days, if they have no employment, they will be assessed for social welfare.
They will also be eligible for the rent allowance, but not for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or social housing, the Taoiseach confirmed.
All will be entitled to medical cards and children will be entitled to child benefit.
The changes will only apply to new arrivals into Ireland from a date yet to confirmed in January or early February.
A government spokesperson has confirmed that those that travel within the Christmas period of 23 December to the 8 January will not be impacted by the new changes and will not be classed as a new arrival.
The changes have been “well-flagged” over the last number of months, Varadkar added.
Minister for Children and Integration Roderic O’Gorman has said that he does not expect homelessness to rise in Ireland as a result of the planned changes.
When asked if Ukrainians who cannot find alternative accommodation after the 90 days will find themselves homeless, the minister said:
“I fundamentally don’t believe that’s going to become an issue.”
He said where other countries have introduced a time limit on accommodation, “it hasn’t resulted in homelessness”.
It is understood there was an extensive discussion at Cabinet today about the changes to the supports, in particular around what will happen if Ukrainians cannot find alternative accommodation.
When questioned on the matter, the minister said he does not have a contingency plan for such a scenario.
It is believed that the proposed changes should result in a fall off in the number of arrivals coming to Ireland, particularly from secondary countries, whereby Ukrainians arrive into the country having already been located in another EU country.
As part of today’s announcement, O’Gorman said that a number of new reception centres are to be set up around the country to house new arrivals. This is alongside the use of hotel and guesthouse properties.
Meals and laundry services, integration support and access to education for children will be provided in those reception centres.
“We have some centres that we will be designated as reception centres that aren’t currently being used at the moment. So Stradbally is an example of one. There’s a number of other centres around the country that we’re ready to bring online that will be used solely for the purposes of reception centers. So we believe we will have capacity there,” he said.
There are no changes being made to the offerings to Ukrainians who are currently in Ireland, O’Gorman said, adding that the Attorney General was confident that the proposal did not pose a legal concern over treating two groups of people differently.
He said there will be an information campaign to let Ukrainians know about the changes to the supports and “setting out the realities of what the challenges of securing accommodation in the private market is right now”.
“People travelling to Ireland post this date will know very clearly it is a different situation.”
The Taoiseach said it is a “very difficult situation”, but added that he was proud of Ireland’s response to accommodating some 100,000 Ukrainians.
More than 101,200 people have arrived from Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, with 74,500 Ukrainians living in state accommodation, and 57,000 in fully serviced accommodation.
More than 16,000 are currently in employment, according to government figures.
“But the situation is that accommodation is scarce and the numbers coming in remain very large. We’re making this change, with that in mind, recognising that other European countries have acted similarly and have changed what they offer over the course of two years,” said Varadkar.
The government told reporters that there is now needs to be a move away from its initial “crisis response” to one that is more “sustainable”.
What was s appropriate early in the war has to change in line with what other EU countries are offering, said O’Gorman.
Reacting to the proposed changes, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Protection Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said:
“It has been clear for some time that the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland is placing massive pressure on the system, and we agree with the government that welfare payments should be brought down in line with the payments made to international protection applicants.
“There needs to be a more uniform approach across the EU regarding what is provided in each State so that there isn’t secondary movement from other States.
“We also need to be preparing for what happens over the next year as the temporary protection measures regarding Ukraine come to an end.
He said Sinn Féin is “very concerned” that Ukrainians will be left to rely on the private rental sector.
“That will not work. Government should not confuse temporary accommodation with long-term housing. They must set out clearly what their proposal is and how they think it can work,” he said.
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