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

I thank the Deputy for his question. Just before I respond specifically on the ARP, it is worth reminding ourselves of the context in which this payment was introduced. It was at a time of the greatest humanitarian crisis we have seen on our Continent since the Second World War, and the greatest movement of people across the Continent.

It was the biggest humanitarian challenge we in Ireland have faced in our nation's history. We have provided refuge for more than 100,000 Ukrainians over the course of the past two years. At its height, the State was directly providing accommodation supports to approximately 75,000 Ukrainians, but the numbers have decreased for various reasons. One reason is that Ukrainians are returning home. Some Ukrainians are going to other European countries. The numbers have also decreased because of measures the Government has taken. We provided a generous response to Ukrainians at the start of this war. That was the right thing to do. Most Deputies in this House think that was the right thing to do. However, it was not a response that could be maintained in the medium term. Earlier this year we made significant changes to accommodation in particular. We placed a 90-day limit on the ability of new Ukrainians coming to this country to stay here. That had a very significant impact on the number of people arriving in Ireland seeking temporary protection. We subsequently made changes to ensure equalisation and fairness. For example, there was an anomaly for Ukrainians who were in receipt of direct State-provided accommodation, who were getting free accommodation as well as meals. They were in a more advantageous situation than Ukrainians in self-catering accommodation and Irish people. We have made significant amendments to the social protection entitlements for those in full State-owned accommodation. They are now only entitled to €38 per week. That change has had an impact as well.

The recognition payment has been very important to support the pledged accommodation and the local authority accommodation scheme. It has allowed us to move away from total reliance on hotel and guesthouse accommodation that we saw earlier in our response. It has also allowed Ukrainians to integrate within communities. Sometimes they get entire homes and sometimes shared rooms within an individual's house. The payment supported people to do that and to meet their costs. Up to this point, we have aligned that support with the temporary protection directive. That is correct in terms of ensuring Ireland's response is in lock step with the response of other European member states. Under the legislation, there is a provision for the review of the workings of the recognition payment. A review is currently under way and that will feed in to the decision on whether we extend the scheme in line with the temporary protection directive or if we amend its ambit.

It is important to state that right now there are thousands of people supported by this payment.

If we were to cut or end the payment immediately, it is important that we understand the impact this would have on Ukrainians who we, as a country, are hosting. That has to be borne in mind in terms of any decision this Government or future Governments make in respect of the recognition payment.

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