Written answers
Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
International Protection
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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655. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is intended to extend the accommodation recognition payment for hosting refugees from Ukraine beyond 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6016/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) who arrived in Ireland after fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The ARP scheme is provided in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf. In line with extensions of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), the ARP scheme was initially extended to 31 March 2024 and then to 31 March 2025.
As the TPD is now extended to March 2026, consideration is being given to the extension of the ARP scheme. Resolutions must be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas before this Order is made. A decision will be reached in respect of the ARP shortly.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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656. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many beneficiaries of temporary protection are in accommodation supported by the accommodation recognition payment, in tabular form through the Irish Red Cross Pledge Campaign, the offer-a-home scheme operated by local authorities, or by private arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6017/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As of 10 February 2025, there were almost 19,500 active claims in payment in respect of hosting over 36,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine.
Applicants for the Accommodation Recognition Payment are not required to register with the Irish Red Cross Pledge Campaign or the Offer a Home scheme operated by local authorities. The information that the Deputy has requested is not available as it is not captured as part of the application process as prescribed by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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657. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has considered how the decision of the British government to cut funding for its Homes for Ukraine scheme and other schemes aimed at Ukrainians in Britain will impact on correspondence schemes in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6018/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) who arrived in Ireland after fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The ARP scheme is provided in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf. In line with extensions of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), the ARP scheme was initially extended to 31 March 2024 and then to 31 March 2025.
While my Department monitors international policies and best practices, all policy decisions are primarily driven by factors relevant to the Irish context. The UK schemes to which the Deputy refers have not been considerations in the policy relating to the ARP scheme.
The future of the scheme will be considered in the context of the continued whole of Government response to the war in Ukraine. A decision will be reached in respect of the ARP shortly.
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