Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to discuss this today. The point she discussed around certainty, which Senators O'Loughlin and Ahearn also raised, is important. The fact we are dealing with this motion four days before the end of the month suggests that there has not been certainty. I support the theory of the scheme but I wish it had been arranged earlier so that families were not living in a state of flux and not worrying about where they were going to live. This extension should not have been arranged at the last possible minute. We have heard at length the positive benefits of this scheme for both the Ukrainians living with host families and the hosts themselves. According to the Irish Red Cross, 91% of hosts reported good experiences. We all attended a good briefing a few weeks ago. A total of 81% of them wanted to extend the pledge. Senator Ahearn also mentioned how much we are saving the State by using this scheme. I support that point.

In recent weeks, a number of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their accommodation, whether it was hotels or student accommodation. That is slightly separate from this discussion but I want to highlight the retraumatising effect that can have on people, particularly children, when they have settled into their schools and communities and then have to move long distances away and start again. I want to link those two issues. Both those families, and those living with hosts, have started to put down roots, have made friends and have been working in their local areas and so it is really important that this scheme be extended to ensure that can continue.

I support the extension of the scheme but I will propose an amendment later to retain the accommodation recognition payment at €800 per month for the year. Senator Ahearn pointed out that it had been increased from €400 to €800 per month but that was because it was not sufficient in the first place and, therefore, maintaining it at €800 per month for the entire year is only fair. As has been mentioned, the payment serves as a token of appreciation or generosity to these hosts and acknowledges the expenses they incur while hosting people. Lots of people are doing it out of solidarity. They are losing money on this and reducing the payment is quite punitive. It is within that framework that the scheme should be extended and the ARP remain at €800 per month. According to the Irish Red Cross, 70% of hosts are somewhat motivated or incentivised by the value and would not be able to continue hosting without the payment. Hence, it is important that we keep the amount the same.

I wish to highlight, as the Minister did, that this payment is largely not going to landlords. This is going to people that are outside of the landlord sector, with a spare room, a granny flat or something in the back garden that they would not normally rent out. They are doing it as an act of solidarity. That is why it is important that we continue to recognise the lengths that they are going to. It is not always easy to have strangers in your home. They are not strangers anymore after three years but the reduction is reducing how the State sees the work these families are doing through hosting.

The major risk in not renewing the ARP in its current form is that it will increase uncertainty for hosts and for the Ukrainian guests, and inflict further challenges on people who have already faced huge challenges and an horrific war. Of course, it will also going to deepen the homelessness crisis, as Senator McCarthy spoke to really well.

The Social Democrats want to have an early discussion on this and what happens to this scheme post-March 2026 in a timely manner. The Minister stated the payment would reduce to €600 per month from July. We need to maintain the current payment until March 2026, but it should be around July that we have a clear policy guideline on what will happen post 2026. We need to be talking in a timely manner so that we can, as the Minister said, provide certainty to host families and Ukrainians on what will happen this time next year. It is about proper planning and forward thinking.