Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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636.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current accommodation supports and the rates of payment that Ukrainian refugees are entitled to, broken down by accommodation type that is, hotels, those staying with families, and so on and the dates that any reductions are set to take effect, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I wish to confirm to the Deputy that from 14 March 2024 anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine who registers for temporary protection and requests State-provided accommodation in Ireland, is accommodated for a maximum of 90 days in Designated Accommodation Centres (DACs) and provided with food, laundry, other services and integration supports.

The focus of supports in DACs are orientation on living and working in Ireland and the options for sourcing accommodation independently. Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) are given support on transitioning to independent accommodation, including information on accessing the housing market, the supports available in that respect, as well as other streams of accommodation, such as ‘Offer a Home’ and pledged accommodation. BOTPs are not restricted to accommodation which may be available near the DAC and are encouraged to look far and wide for options of employment and accommodation to suit their needs.

While they are resident in Designated Accommodation Centres, BOTPs are entitled to a weekly allowance of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child in respect of daily expenses in lieu of social welfare. They are also entitled to Child Benefit. This change does not apply to people who had already arrived here from Ukraine before 14 March.

Under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who left DACs or that made their own accommodation arrangements on arrival are entitled to the same social welfare benefits as those to which Irish citizens are entitled subject to meeting the eligibility conditions. Similar to Irish citizens, BOTPs can explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. However, BOTPs are not eligible for long-term housing supports, such as Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Last month, the Government agreed that Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in State-provided serviced accommodation should receive the same level of payment regardless of when they arrived.

The Minister for Social Protection and I will liaise on the operational arrangements to give effect to this change, with an estimated 12 week lead-in time to allow details to be finalised and notice to be provided to the people affected.

While my Department assists with the Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis to ensure that Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have access to suitable accommodation or, if necessary, receive the means to access accommodation, other Departments and Agencies are also involved in the whole-of-Government response to this crisis. The Deputy might wish to refer questions regarding payments to BOTPs to my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.