Government to withdraw State accommodation for 16,000 Ukrainians
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association
The Government is to withdraw State-supplied accommodation on a phased basis for about 16,000 Ukrainians.
The move comes after the Government cut the length of time newly-arriving Ukrainian refugees can stay in State accommodation from 90 days to 30.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan received agreement on the proposals at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting on Monday evening ahead of Cabinet on Tuesday.
It is understood the proposals will see the withdrawal of State-contracted, commercial accommodation being offered to Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Ireland before March 2024.
This is estimated to affect about 16,000 people.
The withdrawal will be phased over a six-month period beginning in August and people are expected to be given a minimum of three months’ notice.
There will be an exception for people who are very vulnerable and people who have barriers to independence, who will need to self-declare and provide evidence of their need for accommodation, it is understood.
More than 125,700 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with more than 94,300 offered State-supported accommodation.
About 19,200 people are currently in State-contracted accommodation.
About 531 contracts for temporary accommodation are in place, with businesses such as hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs.
This provides about 22,450 beds to Ukrainian refugees.
At the Cabinet sub-committee, O’Callaghan also received agreement to wind down the accommodation recognition payment, a tax-free monthly sum paid to those offering accommodation to Ukrainians, by March next year.
About 42,000 Ukrainians are in such accommodation arrangements.
It was also noted that Ireland is to engage with the EU-led voluntary return and reintegration programme to Ukraine (VRRP), which is likely to begin in March 2027 after a pilot, which is expected to run this year.
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Ireland in December, Zelensky was asked about pared-back support for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland and whether it meant Irish support for Ukraine was not as strong as it once was.
He said Ireland chose to support Ukraine from the start because it was the right thing to do.
“Ireland has been helping Ukrainians who stayed behind in Ukraine, and has been helping Ukrainians who have moved to Ireland, and we’re grateful for that,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.
“The way I was brought up is that I can’t criticise help – whether it’s getting more or less, we should be grateful and not forget about this.”
