Christmas 2024 Absence Policy

It has been agreed that for the Christmas 2024 period of 23 December 2024 - 08 January 2025 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) may travel freely and be absent from their State funded temporary emergency accommodation or their rapid build/modular home.

BOTPs must have returned to their accommodation by 08 January 2025, or risk losing that accommodation. During this time BOTPs must continue paying the mandatory contribution charge to their accommodation provider or Tuath Housing as usual.

Anyone in State funded accommodation intending to travel between these dates can do so without having to apply to UCTAT in advance.

However, where BOTP’s are currently residing in a rapid build/modular home managed by Tuath Housing, they must notify contributions@tuathhousing.ie that they will be absent from their unit for security purposes and provide the address and dates.

Anyone intending to be absent outside of the pre-approved dates must make an application to seek approval in the usual way. Only those with an approved exceptional absence or those who have relinquished their accommodation voluntarily through the agreed form may be absent before 23rd Dec or after 08 January 2025.

The Absence Protocol does not apply to BOTPs currently residing in 90 Day Designated Accommodation Centres (DACs) where separate arrangements are in place. Nor does it apply to Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) or Pledged Accommodation who may make their own arrangements to travel as they wish.

Any unsanctioned absences will be treated as refusals by UCTAT in the case of standard commercial accommodation, or by Tuath Housing for rapid build/modular homes, which may result in the accommodation being reallocated. Any BOTP found to have refused an offer of accommodation will not be eligible for another offer of accommodation from the State.

At all times, parents/legal guardians remain responsible for minors in their care, who cannot be left unaccompanied in accommodation under any circumstances.

Responsibility for personal effects left in emergency accommodation during an absence remains at the risk of the individuals.