Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to address the House on Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 in this Second Stage debate. The purpose of this Part is to provide for a financial contribution of €400 per property for those providing accommodation to temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine. It is available whether the accommodation is pledged or provided by private arrangement and whether the accommodation is a vacant property or a room in a shared property. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, my Department has worked as part of the Government response with a particular focus on meeting the immediate temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict.

To date, almost 75% of the beneficiaries, more than 28,000 people, who have arrived in Ireland have been referred to my Department for accommodation. The majority of these have been accommodated in hotels and similar accommodation throughout the country. Officials in my Department are also working closely with the Irish Red Cross to utilise the accommodation that has been pledged. To date, almost 1,900 Ukrainians have been accommodated in pledged accommodation. We are also aware that accommodation is being provided to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by private arrangement. The financial contribution scheme recognises the value and generosity of those pledging their accommodation and providing it by private arrangement.

The Government is keenly aware that there are costs for people who make accommodation available to temporary protection beneficiaries. I want to be clear, however, that there is no link assumed between the payment under this scheme and actual costs incurred. This is simply not possible. It is essentially a recognition payment recognising the generosity and kindness of those offering up or opening their homes to others in their time of need.

I now turn to the main provisions in this Part. Section 4 sets out the qualifying period for the scheme, which essentially means that claims for the contribution can be made in respect of accommodation provided from March 2022, and provides an end date for the scheme of 31 March 2023. That end date will be subject to review.

Section 6 provides for the conditions to be satisfied by a person in order to be entitled to a financial contribution. This includes that he or she completes a declaration as part of the application process. Section 7 requires an application for a financial contribution in respect of an eligible dwelling to be made to the Minister for Social Protection. Applications will be made online and applicants will be required to self-declare regarding a number of matters set out in section 7, including that they have the authority or consent to provide the accommodation and are willing to offer the accommodation for a minimum period of six months.

Section 8 provides that where an applicant satisfies the conditions in respect of an eligible dwelling, a financial contribution in respect of the dwelling for the calendar month will be payable to the applicant by the Minister for Social Protection. Section 9 sets the monthly financial contribution at €400 and further provides the amount can be amended by order and the process for doing so.

Section 10 provides for the designation by the Minister for Social Protection of staff as appointed officers to make decisions in respect of applications. Section 11 provides for the notification of decisions to applicants. Section 12 provides for the appointment of appeals officers by the Minister for Social Protection. Section 13 provides for an appeals process. Section 14 requires an applicant to notify the Minister for Social Protection of a change in circumstances affecting his or her eligibility for a financial contribution. Section 15 provides for the recovery by the Minister for Social Protection of financial contributions where there was no entitlement to such contributions. Section 16 provides for the sharing of information between the relevant bodies in respect of the scheme. This includes my Department, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Justice and the Revenue Commissioners.

Section 17 provides for offences and penalties, while section 18 provides for the prosecution of offences under Part 2. Section 19 provides that payments under the financial contribution scheme will be exempt for the purposes of means testing in respect of a benefit granted by a public body.

Section 20 provides for the process of notifications under Part 2 will be in writing. Section 21 creates a regulation-making power for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with the consent of the Minister for Social Protection, in relation to the application and appeals processes. Section 22 provides that the payment of a financial contribution will not create a landlord and tenant relationship. Section 23 clarifies that a financial contribution in respect of an eligible dwelling under this Act will be exempt from income tax.

Section 24 provides for an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to prevent the unintentional creation of a landlord and tenant relationship where accommodation is provided to a temporary protection beneficiary for six months or more. My Department is working with the Department of Social Protection on an early commencement of the scheme and the development of communications. My Department is also working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on accommodation standards for accommodation that is the subject of a claim under the scheme.

I acknowledge the work already under way to activate pledges for accommodation by the Department's implementing partners - the Irish Red Cross, local authorities, the International Organization for Migration and the Peter McVerry Trust - and the generosity shown by those who have offered up or opened their homes to those in need.

I will now move to Part 3. Section 25 is an amendment of the Childcare Support Act 2018 to ensure that families who are temporary protection beneficiaries in the State can receive financial support with the cost of early learning and childcare costs under the national childcare scheme, NCS. The NCS is the Government's key mechanism to reduce the cost of childcare to parents by subsiding childcare fees set by providers. The level of subsidy is based on parental income and the level of childcare required. Subsidies range from a universal subsidy of 50 cent per hour up to the maximum targeted subsidy, which can cover the full cost of childcare. Access to the NCS will help families who are temporary protection beneficiaries to access childcare, which will support parents and guardians to engage in work, study or training, while attendance at high-quality early learning and childcare services will give their children security, stability and a chance to play and learn with other children.

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