Press release
Changes to accommodation for people fleeing war in Ukraine
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
New legislation to bring into effect a revised approach to supporting new arrivals from Ukraine has been commenced. This follows the government decision in December and the passing of the relevant legislation last week.
Under the revised approach, from this Thursday, 14 March, anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine, who registers for temporary protection and is looking for State-provided accommodation in Ireland, will be accommodated for a maximum of 90 days. They will be provided with food, laundry, other services and integration supports in Designated Accommodation Centres.
Standard social welfare payments will no longer be available to a person while they are resident in Designated Accommodation Centres. They will be entitled to a reduced weekly allowance of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child in respect of daily expenses, while they are resident in Designated Accommodation Centres. Entitlement to Child Benefit is not affected by these changes.
When they leave the Designated Accommodation Centre, or if they make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival, they will be entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance, equivalent to Irish citizens subject to meeting the eligibility conditions.
The government is making these changes in order to continue to meet the EU Temporary Protection Directive requirements, and to align more closely with other EU Member States.
These changes will not affect people from Ukraine who arrived in Ireland before this policy came into force and are already registered for temporary protection.
Five accommodation centres have been identified to provide 90 days of accommodation for new arrivals from Ukraine. The first five to be confirmed as Designated Accommodation Centres under the new legislation are:
The focus of supports in designated centres will be orientation on living and working in Ireland and the options for sourcing accommodation independently.
In May 2024, the government agreed to bring equivalence of treatment between beneficiaries of temporary protection who arrived in Ireland before and after 14 March and who are living in full board State supported accommodation where meals and utilities are provided.
From 9 September 2024, beneficiaries of temporary protection who live in a Designated Accommodation Centre where meals and utilities are provided no longer qualify for certain social assistance payments. While in Designated Accommodation Centres, they are entitled to the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment, subject to an income test. Where beneficiaries of temporary protection are making a contribution towards the cost of their meals, their payment rate will reflect this.
Beneficiaries continue to have access to accommodation, healthcare and education, if needed.
Further information can be found at gov - Statement on behalf of the Government of Ireland (www.gov.ie)
List of Designated Accommodation Centres (Full Board) - by County
These changes do not apply to people seeking international protection in Ireland, it is only for people fleeing the war in Ukraine who request temporary protection here. Further information can be found on www.gov.ie/Ukraine.
Legal basis - Section 60(10) of the International Protection Act 2015, which provides for the entitlements of beneficiaries of temporary protection, has been amended by section 11 of the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, commenced on 12 March 2024 by the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Chapter 2 of Part 4) (Commencement) Order 2024 (SI No.95 of 2024).