Ukrainian accommodation payments reduced to €600 monthly

The government will extend a scheme that supports the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees, but the monthly payment for hosts will decrease. Currently, hosts receive €800 a month for housing refugees. This amount will be reduced to €600. The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was set to end on March 31. However, it will now continue for at least one more year. Almost 35,500 Ukrainians are benefiting from this program, which started after the war in Ukraine began in 2022. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, about 113,600 Ukrainians have received temporary protection in Ireland. While some have returned to Ukraine, around 85,000 still remain. The Ukraine Civil Society Forum reported that the 35,500 Ukrainians are being hosted by around 19,000 families. In January, the forum expressed concerns about the potential loss of accommodation if the scheme was not extended.