Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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534. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if national insurance will be provided to refugees from Ukraine. [22779/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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535. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if national insurance will be provided to refugees from Ukraine. [22779/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted the decision to apply the Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EC to persons displaced from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 as a result of the military invasion by Russian armed forces that began on that date. This means that people from Ukraine arriving in the State will receive a letter confirming that they have been granted temporary protection under this Directive.

The priority of my Department is to assist Ukrainian people to apply for an income support payment immediately on their arrival in the State. A fast-track approach to processing such applications has been put in place which includes simplified decision-making and swift processing of Personal Public Service Numbers to facilitate prompt access to a range of public services.

A reception centre has been set up in Dublin Airport where officials from my Department and other Government Departments are available to meet Ukrainian people and to help them access a range of services including income supports. My Department has also established dedicated Ukraine Support Centres in Dublin, Cork and Limerick and the services, including the employment support services, of the Intreo Centres located across the country are also available to Ukrainian people.Ukrainian citizens in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive can work legally in the State and are entitled to the range of statutory employment rights and protections in the same manner as Irish workers.

A dedicated webpage has been published on my Department’s website to ensure people arriving from Ukraine are aware of the supports and services available to them. The webpage is entitled ‘Social Welfare supports for those arriving from Ukraine under the EU Temporary Protection Directive’. The information on the webpage is in plain English and also in the Ukrainian and Russian languages.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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536. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if payments made to households who house Ukrainian refugees in their homes will be assessed as income in cases in which the householder is in receipt of a means tested social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22784/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is providing ongoing support and services to assist people covered by the Temporary Protection Directive who are fleeing Ukraine and who arrive in Ireland, such as the provision of PPSNs and income supports.

Currently, where a recipient of a means tested social assistance payment provides accommodation in their own home, any rental payment received in exchange will be assessed in the means test for their social assistance payment and could affect their weekly rate of payment.

In addition, entitlement to secondary benefits such as Fuel Allowance or Living Alone Allowance may be affected due to changes in household composition.

With this in mind, I have asked my officials to examine these issues and come forward with proposals as soon as possible.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.