Justice Minister mulling payments to Ukrainian refugees after they return home

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

The Minister for Justice said he is considering a scheme which would offer payments to Ukrainian refugees who return to their home country.

Jim O’Callaghan was responding to a report in The Sunday Times, which said Ukrainians who fled to Ireland because of the war would receive the money after they have arrived back in Ukraine.

More than 125,700 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland since Russia’s invasion in February 2022

Speaking to reporters at Fianna Fáil’s annual Sean Lemass Commemoration on Sunday, Mr O’Callaghan said he would be bringing a memorandum to Government “dealing with a number of issues arising in respect of temporary protection” in the next few weeks.

He pointed to the government’s Voluntary Returns Programme scheme which provides financial assistance to people in the international protection system who do not wish, or are not allowed, to stay in Ireland.

Mr O’Callaghan said “That is a factor that will be considered” for Ukrainians who are beneficiaries of temporary protection.

“I’m not going to make any announcement yet because I haven’t got the full approval of Government,” he said “but it’s certainly something that we’ll be considering putting before Government in due course”.

Asked how long an individual would have to be back in Ukraine before payment is made, Mr O’Callaghan said it would be “disrespectful” to his cabinet colleagues to talk about proposals that have not been agreed.

But said: “Certainly there will be a mechanism in place to encourage people to want to go back to Ukraine, and it may be the case that they need some assistance in going back there, and I think that would be appropriate in the circumstances.”

The Minister for Migration’s comments come during an uneasy three-day truce between Russia and Ukraine.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said the two countries had agreed to his request for a ceasefire running from Saturday until Monday to mark Victory Day, the Russian celebration marking the defeat of Nazi Germany.

However, both sides have accused the other of violating the truce.

Russian State media has reported the country’s Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that Kyiv has committed more than 1,000 ceasefire violations.

Ukrainian officials said there has been one death and multiple injuries during Russian drone and artillery strikes in the past 24 hours.

Ireland is also to engage with the EU-led voluntary return and reintegration programme to Ukraine, which is likely to begin in March 2027 after a pilot which is expected to run this year.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “I’m very conscious that, having listened to the Ukrainian government figures and the Minister for Home Affairs in Ukraine, they’re very anxious for Ukrainian people to return to Ukraine.

“And obviously, there are very many people who are Ukrainian in Ireland who will wish to go home.

There would need to be a “variety of mechanisms in place” to facilitate people who want to go back home to Ukraine, he said.

Two weeks ago, the Government said it would withdraw State-supplied accommodation on a phased basis for about 16,000 Ukrainians.

Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Ireland before March 2024 have been entitled to rent-free state accommodation, but it is understood the government is planning a phased six-month withdrawal beginning in August.

It is expected that 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.