Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Senators and the Minister of State to the House.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I move:

That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft:

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2026,

a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 23rd February, 2026.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Members of the Seanad for making time to discuss this motion, which concerns an order that the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and I propose to make. The motion is to extend the termination date for the financial contribution scheme for hosts of temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine, known as the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. The extension of the scheme is the only item for consideration today. The ARP scheme was introduced at the time of the greatest crisis in Europe since the Second World War, which saw 125,000 people from Ukraine seek temporary protection in Ireland. Sole reliance on accommodation procured from the hospitality sector was not sustainable to respond to the needs of those seeking accommodation supports. Thousands of Irish households very generously offered shelter, safety and warmth to those fleeing conflict in Ukraine.

The ARP scheme was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the valued contribution of those who opened to their homes to provide shelter to people seeking temporary protection in Ireland.It evolved into a tax-free monthly payment of €600 per property used to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, irrespective of whether the property was vacant or shared with a host. The monthly rate offered under the scheme is not linked to the costs incurred by the person providing the accommodation. It is merely intended to recognise the valuable contribution of those who host. The ARP scheme does not apply where there is a rental agreement in place and is not intended to substitute for rent.

When the scheme was introduced, the monthly payment rate was originally set at €400 per property. The rate was subsequently increased to €800 from 1 December 2022 to coincide with the introduction of the offer a home scheme. The latter is administered by local authorities in conjunction with the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA. The offer a home scheme has been invaluable in making holiday homes in the main available as accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection. As we have moved from a crisis response, we have had to consider and taper our supports. As a result, the monthly payment rate was reduced from €800 to €600 in June of last year. This policy change was intended to mitigate the scheme's perceived impact on the private rental market. The ARP scheme is due to end on 31 March next. However, it is intended to extend the scheme to 31 March 2027 by ministerial order, subject to Oireachtas approval. This would mirror the extension of the application of the temporary protection directive to the war in Ukraine. It would also provide certainty, not only to hosts but also to those accommodated in hosted arrangements.

The scheme is not only a means of recognising the part played by hosts, it is also instrumental in supporting Ukrainians to integrate within local communities nationwide. It has been pivotal in delivering Ukrainian individuals and their families away from State-contracted accommodation, which is often in hotels and guest houses, allowing those beds to be returned to the hospitality sector. The scheme is also far more cost-effective for the Exchequer. The average cost of the accommodation recognition payment per person per night is €11 compared with an average of €50 per night in commercial contracted accommodation.

The scheme has allowed the Department to move away from a total reliance on tourism and hospitality settings. This has enabled the Department to consolidate its contracted accommodation portfolio. As the numbers in hosted accommodation have increased, the numbers in State contracted accommodation have fallen from a high of almost 60,000 at the end of 2023 to under 20,000 at present. Since quarter 4 of 2024, the number of beneficiaries in hosted accommodation has exceeded the number of those in contracted accommodation and continues to do so. To date, approximately €438 million has been paid to almost 28,000 recipients in respect of hosting over 64,000 temporary protection beneficiaries. Currently some 42,000 Ukrainian citizens are being accommodated in more than 23,500 properties with the support of the scheme.

I acknowledge the concerns previously expressed in this House on the potential impact of the ARP scheme on the private rental market. I recognise that it could be the case, particularly in some rural areas, that €600 per month tax free may be more beneficial to an owner than making a property available for the rental market. However, a survey from the Irish Red Cross found that the vast majority of hosts, some 91%, are not landlords and have no plans to become landlords. For many, their primary motivation has been solidarity with Ukraine. Rather than interfering with the rental market, the ARP scheme has been responsible for introducing a stream of accommodation that would not otherwise have been available. This view was expressed by a number of support organisations in submissions to the Department regarding the extension of the scheme.

I reiterate that the payment is not a rent subsidy. It is not available where there is a rental arrangement in place. However, I am aware of Senators' concerns regarding the scheme's potential impact on the private rental market and I have already taken steps to address this. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, brought forward by my colleague the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, was recently enacted. Part 3 of that Act introduces changes to the eligibility criteria for the ARP scheme which are intended to safeguard rental properties for tenants. From 3 March last, properties that were registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, at any time since 4 March 2022 will no longer qualify for the ARP scheme. Tenants will also no longer be eligible to apply for the scheme. This legislative change is intended to mitigate any impact that the scheme may have on the private rental market.

Should the scheme be extended, it is also our intention to plan for a phased and orderly exit from the scheme. As I indicated last week, and subject to the agreement of the Government, it is our intention to reduce the monthly payment to €400 later this year, returning it to the original rate.This should enable an orderly and gradual winding down of the scheme with due regard to all those involved. Further steps will be considered in due course to ensure an orderly an exit. More broadly, I can confirm that planning for the conclusion of temporary protection is actively under way. This work is being advanced by the senior officials group reporting to the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs. In addition to extending the directive, member states are considering measures for a co-ordinated transition out of temporary protection when the directive is no longer in force. Department officials are considering proposals made by the European Commission on these matters. While the ARP scheme is not without issues, an extension is required as, otherwise, it would be at risk of placing significant pressures on an already strained private rental market. The potential loss of hosted accommodation risks displacing Ukrainian citizens, many of whom would be forced to compete in the private rental market or face precarious living conditions.

In regard to today's proposals, Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 introduced the scheme with a termination date of 31 March 2023. That date reflected the duration of temporary protection under the 2001 Council directive. The directive had subsequently been extended a number of times and each time the ARP scheme has been extended to mirror those extensions. In a continued spirit of unity and support for the Ukrainian Government and its citizens, the European Commission has extended temporary protection until March 2027. It is therefore appropriate to make an order to extend the ARP scheme to the end of March 2027. Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 allows us to make such a change to a date considered appropriate following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for public expenditure and reform. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and I have undertaken those consultations and both Ministers have expressed support for the extension of the scheme to us. In considering the ARP scheme extension, we were mindful of the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in maintaining the availability of accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection. I want to be clear that the motion relates only to the extension of the scheme for a further year and nothing else.

The 2022 Act requires a draft order to be laid before and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. Approval of the motion in Seanad Éireann today is essential to ensure the continuation of the scheme beyond March 2026. Should the scheme's extension be approved by the Oireachtas, we will continue to monitor it to ensure it remains fit for purpose and to allow for an orderly wind-down of the scheme to commence.

I would like to take opportunity to thank all those involved in hosting. People have done a wonderful job in providing a room. They have also provided a sense of belonging. I also acknowledge the great work of the Irish Red Cross, the International Organization for Migration, the local authorities and other organisations that have supported hosting arrangements. I also recognise the great work of local communities and how they have actively supported families in integrating through access to employment and education. The scheme has been an effective instrument of public policy which we cannot afford to abruptly lose. Approval of this motion will provide certainty to all of those involved in the hosting arrangements.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State back to the House, along with his officials. I thank him for outlining the detail of the ARP scheme, the continuation of it and the phasing out of it completely over the next year or so. As a country and as a people, we can be very proud of our response to the Ukrainian community when they fled here during the illegal invasion of their country by Russia. It was an emergency situation that required an emergency response. The Irish people and the Government can be very proud of how they responded to the Ukrainian people who fled to our country seeking shelter. It is very important we make that point. Unfortunately, we are now entering the fourth year of the war and it is more important than ever that we continue to stress our steadfast support for the people of Ukraine in their attempt to try to find a sustainable peace in their country.

In relation to the matter before us, namely, the reduction and phasing out of the ARP scheme in a phased and orderly fashion, as the Minister of State said, it is an matter I very much support. At the time it was mentioned there would be issues in regard to the private rental market and I think the Government has recognised that.Having said that, I was interested in the fact that the Minister of State referred to a survey carried out by the Red Cross which indicated that 91% of those who got involved in the scheme were not landlords.

The scheme has served a purpose. At its peak, there were in the region of 120,000 or 121,000 Ukrainians here. That has decreased to something around 80,000. It is important to note the breakdown of that number. Of the 80,000 who are currently here, over 30,000 are in employment. Another 30,000 comprise children and young people. The balance is made up of the elderly, people in care or those in full-time education. In fairness to the Ukrainian people, they have rolled up their sleeves. They have helped by getting themselves jobs, and they are of benefit to the economy. Most people would agree that in a situation where people are working and have an income coming in, it is only fair that they would pay their way. Most of the Ukrainian people I have spoken to have no issue whatsoever with that.

I am happy to fully agree to the proposal before us, which has already been passed by the Dáil. The scheme has served a purpose, but it is time that we phase it out in an orderly fashion, as the Minister of State indicated. I again thank all those who have properties that they would not ordinarily rent out in the private housing market for coming forward and offering up their homes and rooms in their houses at a time of need for Ukrainian people. We can be very proud of our contribution in that regard.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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I want to respond to the Minister of State's contribution. Many of us are familiar with a prayer that is sometimes said - I do not want to sound sanctimonious here - to the effect that it is in giving that we receive. That should be the theme of the response to Ukrainians by the people of Ireland that we saw from 2022. There was an extraordinary generosity shown by the people. It was not just an vacuous generosity or expression of goodwill. Those who hitherto had not considered accommodating people - is strainséirí iad go léir - complete strangers who come from a different culture and part of the world, harboured them in such a hospitable way. It was an extraordinary venture of national generosity that has to be credited and marked here.

The Ukrainian people who came here and integrated themselves as a result of the hospitality shown to them gained an awful lot. They probably thought in the beginning that it would be a fairly temporary arrangement, but it has extended into its fifth year at this stage. Those involved are contributing in a very generous and efficient way to our economy. The figures were mentioned by Senator Gallagher. There are 30,000 in employment and a great many in education at the three levels. The old people who I know personally in Waterford and who are here with their sons and daughters have been fulsome in their praise of the generosity and care they are getting in this country.

The prospect of the scheme coming to a precipitate end is something that cannot be countenanced. That is why I am uttering my cúpla focal to express my support for the extension of the initiative until 2027. I could really not do otherwise. It just seems to be extremely logical and compassionate to do so. There may be glitches around the edges, but we have to look at the thing in the round. All told, we could do well to extend for another year the compassion and generosity that we have shown as a nation, because it is a very uncertain and mean world out there that these people have had to encounter. As a public representative, it certainly would not be something that I could countenance to whip the rug of support out from under them at this juncture.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before I move to the next speaker, I would like to welcome students of media, politics and society from Rathmines and Blackrock colleges of further education and TU Dublin. They are guests of Senator Higgins but are also students of former Senator Rebecca Moynihan. I hope they enjoy their visit and the experience here in Leinster House.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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As students of media and journalism, I am sceptical of them already. I am fearful about how they might misinterpret what I am going to say. That is always the paranoia in politics. Our guests are very welcome. I hope they enjoy the day.

I will not speak for too long. We spoke about this matter last year when the measure to which it relates was extended. I will raise one point with the Minister of State. I do not know if it is possible, but it was an issue last year and the year before. The decision that is made to extend the measure is not taken until the very last day. There is always a fear - obviously unfounded - because the Government will always support the Ukrainian people, but I wonder if it is possible to make the decision slightly earlier. The measures we have and that we are extending are important for those people who are very generous in putting up their homes or rooms to accommodate Ukrainians who came to this country. Many people did it on the back of the images they saw in 2022, in particular those of innocent young children being evacuated from their cities and homes and being killed. As Irish people do, we reached out the hand of friendship and love and opened up our homes to support them. People did it not knowing how long it would be. Certainly, no one anticipated that we would be into the fifth year of this conflict. It is an extraordinary thing for so many people across the country to do what they have been doing. There are people in these Houses who have done it very quietly. There are loads of people across the country who have done it. It is really important to recognise it. They certainly do not do it for financial gain, albeit there is a financial contribution to recognise what they have done. They do it in the interests of helping other citizens.

It is incredible to think that we have people in this country who have given over their homes to citizens of Ukraine for more than four years. Obviously, we do not want that to continue forever. We want peace and we want Ukrainian people who want to go home to have the opportunity to do so safely. There will also be Ukrainian people who have set up lives here and who want to live here in the long term. That is an opportunity for them too, which we should welcome because we have seen over the past four years the incredibly positive contribution Ukrainian people have made to our country at all levels, including in instances where they have opened up businesses. I know businesses that have opened up in Cahir, Clonmel and right across Tipperary. They have built really good businesses for themselves and integrated within communities, including small communities. There is no better image than seeing Ukrainian children in school, in particular in primary school, develop and integrate. They play GAA and integrate with Irish culture. They also bring their culture to young Irish children. It is a really good thing to see. I have seen it for myself. I have a young child in primary school, and I can see how that can expand the young mind of a child in terms of looking beyond their own village and seeing a bigger world, one of diversity but in which people are the same. That is very important for our culture and the youth of today.

I have just come from a meeting of the committee on foreign affairs in respect of Ukraine that lasted two and a half hours. We received a briefing from the Ukrainian committee of foreign affairs on the war, support and things that are needed. The position in that regard is from last year or the year before.Lviv was bombed today and other cities were hit hard. Eyes and media have focused on Iran, Palestine and other very serious conflicts but nothing has changed for the people of Ukraine. We need to make sure the message of solidarity and support continues to come independently from Ireland and certainly from the EU.

When we take over the Presidency of the EU, I know the Government will prioritise supporting Ukraine diplomatically. That is incredibly important because, when you note the wars happening across the world, you see there is a real challenge for the EU regarding the question of how countries distance themselves from a war in Iran without that impacting on the war in Ukraine. The President of the US could easily wake up tomorrow morning so frustrated with the EU over its not supporting him in a war in Iran that he could decide to end all financial and military support for Ukraine. That would leave a huge burden on the EU and it is something we have to be very delicate about. We need to be conscious of it as we hold the Presidency for the second six months of this year. That is a broader point.

The legislation under discussion has been welcomed. There has been a payment reduction but there needs to be a phasing out. When there was a reduction, we did not see any reduction in the number of homes, in particular, that were used. Therefore, it has not been a deterrent to people continuing to show the support and solidarity they have shown, which emphasises the point that people do not actually do it for money. They do it because they want to support vulnerable people looking for shelter.

I thank the Minister of State for his contribution in the Seanad today and for the work he and his officials in the Department do to support the people of Ukraine.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 1:

To insert the following after "23rd February, 2026": ": provided that this Order shall take effect only after the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 has been amended to provide for the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) Scheme Termination date to be extended only for the following:

– existing recipients with respect to the beneficiaries of temporary protection currently benefitting from the Scheme, where those beneficiaries of temporary protection have satisfied a means test similar to those applicable for other housing assistance payments;

– new applicants who propose to host a beneficiary of temporary protection in their property which is also their own primary residence, and who have not availed of the Rent-a-Room Scheme in the previous 24 months; ensuring that the ARP does not further distort the rental sector; and

– recipients who are not in receipt of any additional or 'top-up' payments from a beneficiary of temporary protection".

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I second the amendment.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in today. As he knows, we have tabled an amendment to this motion. What began as a short-term emergency scheme has since evolved into a scheme increasingly used by landlords. Let us be fair: renting out under the scheme is more financially beneficial and more attractive than standard renting, especially in low-rent areas like the west, the north west and Border counties.

Crucially, the ARP is a non-means-tested, tax-free payment paid directly to landlords, something not available under any other housing support. That creates a clear inequality. In reality, most other payments in this country are means-tested. Pensions, medical cards and Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants are means-tested, yet this scheme allows individuals, sometimes on high incomes, to benefit from generous tax-free State payments. The scheme also allows landlords to avoid standard tenancy obligations and permits unregulated top-up payments, further disadvantaging renters.

For years, the Government has denied any negative impact on the private rental sector, despite consistent warnings from the Opposition. The Government's own report, Regulatory Impact Analysis Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, has now confirmed that the ARP is having a negative impact on the private rental sector. It provides a strong incentive to direct properties away from the long-term rental market, and its tax-free nature makes it more attractive than standard rental income, including supports like the housing assistance payment. That is the Government's own report, yet it is not taking the advice from it. This confirms what Sinn Féin and other Opposition parties have consistently argued, raising serious questions about the Government's transparency in the Dáil.

Sinn Féin's proposal, which is in the amendment we have proposed, is that we do not agree with the ARP being extended without significant reform. That would involve closing the scheme to new entrants, restricting it to primary residences only, introducing a means test for beneficiaries of temporary protection, which is so important considering that every person receiving every other benefit in the country is means tested, and banning top-up payments.

I am listening to everybody saying nobody rents out their house for money. That might be the case for some, but, by God, nobody lives in this country for free. A dog with a mallet up its arse would know renting a house out for €800 tax free would be more beneficial than renting a house out for €800 and paying 50% or 52% in tax. I am sorry but there is no way the Minister of State can stand here and say nobody is doing this for the money. The money is available and that is what people are doing it for. I am not referring to everybody because there are some renting out property because they want to help the Ukrainian people. Nobody else in this country is entitled to something like that. The 15,000 homeless people would not be entitled to something like that. We have to think fairly and put logic behind it.

A means test should be done. That is what we are asking for. We have been asking for it since last year or the year before. Means testing is not punishing. It means that if someone comes here from another country such as Ukraine and is working as a doctor on a massive wage, or working as a pharmacist, teacher or otherwise and getting paid for it, they should be means-tested, like everybody else in this country. It is a simple ask. We are not saying the payment should be stopped but that it should be means tested so the most vulnerable receive it and it is not a blanket payment.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I will be supporting the Government motion. I join my colleague Senator Ahearn in reflecting on the horror of the ongoing war in Ukraine. It has not dissipated. Many people living in Ukrainian cities have experienced one of the worst winters they have ever had, with attacks on energy infrastructure, extreme cold and ongoing bombardment and destruction caused by Putin and the Russian army.

We can be proud of our response to date to the war in Ukraine. The measure under discussion was one of the good ones introduced by the Government and I welcome the extension of it. I urge that when a decision has to be made about winding it up, that be done on a phased basis over time.

I reject the suggestion that the scheme is having a distorting effect on the rental market. There is research from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the RTB on the impact of the ARP scheme on the private rental market. That research, which has not been published, would be welcome and useful to have in the public arena. There is no published evidence to indicate the ARP has significantly distorted the private rental market. In fact, the Irish Research Council host survey found that 91% of hosts were not previously landlords registered with the RTB. Further, the proposed Government legislation will most likely preclude RTB-registered properties from being eligible for the ARP, further reducing interference with the private rental market.

The ARP provides a monthly tax-free payment of €600, equating to €7,200 annually. Seventy-one percent of beneficiaries of temporary protection live in the same properties as their hosts. Under the rent-a-room scheme, a homeowner could rent out a room for up to €1,166 per month, or €14,000 annually, tax free. Comparatively, the ARP remains a less lucrative option in cases of shared accommodation. There are almost 42,000 people benefiting and living in 23,000 properties. There are still 20,000 people living in State-provided accommodation who will continue to have challenges in finding ARP hosts. There is evidence that there have been requests for unregulated top-up payments since the ARP was reduced from €800 to €600. That is something the Government should be mindful of.

I ask that there be no cliff edge in relation to this. We have to monitor the situation in Ukraine as the war evolves but there should not be a cliff edge for hosts or Ukrainian families living in accommodation.

We should consider broadening the scope of the scheme to benefit other cohorts, such as people exiting direct provision who find themselves at high risk of homelessness.We should also give consideration to applying the new 30-day designated accommodation centre policy on a needs basis as opposed to strictly by date of arrival. This could include assistance provision to the less vulnerable to support them in accessing employment and finding accommodation within the community to allow bed space for those most in need. I request that exceptions are made for the most vulnerable to remain to in State-provided accommodation. I also ask for a planned and phased transition away from the ARP. However, I wholeheartedly support this motion, and I know the Cross-Party Group will support it as well.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is welcome to the Chamber this afternoon.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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When the war in Ukraine broke out people came to Ireland in desperate need of safety and the Irish people responded with extraordinary kindness. They opened their homes to victims of war and that is something we should all be proud of. However, what started out as well-intentioned emergency response has created inequality between refugees and Irish citizens and a great little tax-free earner for potential landlords. We debated the topic of ARP in the Chamber last year and once again I support the amendment to have the payment means tested. The reality is that this scheme is not fair. As of May 2025, over 26,000 Ukrainians benefitting from temporary protection were in employment. It is not fair for working people who are struggling to save for a home and who are locked out of the rental market. Surely, equality for all would mean treating everybody as equal. People are not being treated equally on this scheme. The scheme needs reform, and it needs to be means tested. Given that so many Ukrainian refugees were women with young children it would be careless to immediately pull financial support, but we need to determine if that support is actually needed. The Government has presented no logical argument against establishing a means test for the payment. I encourage the Minister to support the amendment and bring a sense of fairness to this scheme.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister for coming here. I concur with what Senator Ahearn has said in relation to the kindness of the people of Ireland in March 2022 when the nation was faced with taking in Ukrainian refugees because of the war with Russia. Many thousands of people opened their hearts and homes to the Ukrainian people. Here we are four years later, and we are saying another year and looking at the cost of that one year. I looked up the figures. There were 19,000 properties availing of this last year in March 2025. This year it is 23,000 properties so it seems to be going up. If it continues like that, it is a cost of approximately €165 million to the taxpayer. I will be supporting the amendment put down by Sinn Féin. I feel it is distorting the housing market. Does the Minister know how many Ukrainians are in possession of the rent allowance supplement as well? Do we have a figure for that? They were always able to get the rent allowance from the moment they arrived in the country if they could not get accommodation in hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation. They were always able to apply to county councils to get rent allowance. Does the Minister know how many are getting rent allowance and how many properties are being rented at the moment? For me it is the inequity and unfairness of the scheme to the Irish taxpayer, and I will be supporting the Sinn Féin motion.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senators whose contributions I have been here to listen to. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, for initiating this motion and I apologise to the Senators I did not get an opportunity to hear. There is a broad recognition that Ireland responded generously to the plight of Ukrainian people who were subjected to an illegal invasion by Russia four years ago. A decision was made across the European Union that the temporary protection provision would kick in and it was appropriate and necessary at the time. As has been indicated we are now more than four years into that temporary provision directive. It is likely that a decision will have to be made later this year in respect of what will happen to temporary protection. I do not think it can continue indefinitely. The impression I get from discussions with my European colleagues is that there will probably be some form of amendment and change made, which will commence in 2027. There is obviously a variety of issues that need to be taken into account. Many Ukrainian people in Ireland and around the European Union will want to return to Ukraine. It is also clearly the case that many will want to stay in member states. It is an issue we will have to resolve and discuss within the European Union and try to come up with a harmonious response in respect of it.

The discussion we are having today is in respect of the accommodation recognition payment. It is important to point out that it was introduced because the Government wanted to give recognition to the significant charitable acts of the Irish public taking in people fleeing the war in Ukraine. It is important that we look at the basis of it, which was not to be compensating people for providing accommodation to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. It was in recognition of the charitable act they have engaged in. Obviously, approval of the motion in the Seanad today is essential to ensure that the scheme does not lapse and that it continues for a further year to align with the EU Council implementing decision that has extended temporary protection to this time next year. This will enable an orderly phasing out of the scheme and avoid a cliff edge of supports for those benefiting from the scheme. That is the sole issue for consideration today.

This scheme's extension will give clarity and assurance to those involved in hosting arrangements. I reiterate that failure to extend the scheme will present significant risks. Should it fall, some beneficiaries could potentially be displaced into an already pressurised rental market. The latter would be a regressive step. Findings from the Irish Red Cross host survey report that 86% of hosts believe the ARP scheme is important for continuing such hosting arrangements. I acknowledge the concerns raised by Senators today such as the scheme's impact on the private rental sector. As has been mentioned, steps have already been taken to address these concerns. From 1 June 2025, the monthly contribution was reduced from €800 per property to €600 per property. This reduction was intended to address concerns voiced previously in the Oireachtas and elsewhere about the possible displacement effect that ARP is having on the private rental market. The reduction aims to ensure that supports for beneficiaries are proportionate and equitable. Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 precludes from the scheme properties that were registered with the Residential Tenancies Board at any time since March 2022. That is designed to ensure we are not putting into the ARP properties that should be available for ordinary residential tenancies. The scheme has been responsible for introducing an accommodation stream that would not otherwise have been available, and which has been a vital element of the State's response in providing accommodation to those who have applied for and been granted temporary protection.

Should the scheme be extended, and subject to agreement at Government level, it is also my intention to propose to colleagues to reduce the monthly payment rate to €400 later this year as was initially provided for in the legislation. This tapering of the payment rate would support an orderly wind down of the scheme. Further steps will be considered in due course to ensure we have an orderly exit. Planning for the conclusion of temporary protection is actively under way. There is work ongoing at national level by the senior officials group reporting to the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs. Member states are also considering measures for the co-ordinated transition out of the temporary protection directive. It is an effective instrument of public policy that we cannot afford to lose at this point. I am aware from speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, that an amendment has been put down by cross-party Senators.Unfortunately I cannot accept the amendment proposed today. The order cannot be made until a resolution approving the order has been passed by each House. Therefore, Senators' approval of the motion by the Seanad today is essential to ensure the scheme continues beyond March 2026 until March 2027.

In terms of the motions that are being proposed, it is important to note the motions would interfere with the primary objective of the scheme, which is to ensure there is a mechanism available whereby we can provide secure accommodation for individuals who are beneficiaries of temporary protection until such time as the scheme comes to an end or the other accommodation comes to an end as well or both. Obviously, the ARP is not the sole method by which accommodation is provided to people who have been granted temporary protection. There is also ongoing accommodation provided and a provision has been put in place to provide a certain amount of accommodation should people be coming from Ukraine now. The numbers of people coming have declined very significantly. I was concerned last September by the numbers of people coming here, particularly young men, from Ukraine and claiming temporary protection. Those numbers have now declined and we just need to keep a close eye on this issue.