Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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421. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the accommodation recognition payment continuing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13088/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. However, the scheme may be extended by Ministerial order, subject to Oireachtas approval.

In making an order to extend the scheme, I am required under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Act of 2022) to have regard to the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in increasing the availability of accommodation for temporary protection beneficiaries.

This scheme is an important instrument of public policy that has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war. It has also diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-contracted accommodation.

Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 enables me to make such change to a date considered appropriate, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I can confirm that I have undertaken those consultations.

The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. I wish to confirm a draft order to extend the scheme has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and will shortly be considered in each House.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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422. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when amendments or a decision will be made to end the accommodation recognition payment scheme, which is due to expire on 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13096/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. However, the scheme may be extended by Ministerial order, subject to Oireachtas approval.

In making an order to extend the scheme, I am required under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Act of 2022) to have regard to the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in increasing the availability of accommodation for temporary protection beneficiaries

This scheme is an important instrument of public policy that has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war. It has also diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-contracted accommodation.

Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 enables me to make such change to a date considered appropriate, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I can confirm that I have undertaken those consultations and that a decision on an extension of the scheme will be made before March 31.

The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. I wish to confirm a draft order to extend the scheme has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and will shortly be considered in each House.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is her intention to close the accommodation recognition payment scheme to new entrants given that the current scheme is due to expire on 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13097/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme, which is currently in place until 31 March 2025, is an important instrument of public policy that has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war. It has also diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-contracted accommodation.

Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 enables me to make such change to a date considered appropriate, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I can confirm that I have undertaken those consultations.

The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. I wish to confirm a draft order to extend the scheme has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and will shortly be considered in each House.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is her intention to ban additional payments by a beneficiary of temporary protection to an accommodation recognition payment application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13098/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP), which is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, is paid in recognition of the generosity of those who host. It is not intended to substitute rent. The legislation is silent in terms of additional contributions requested by the host provided this does not constitute a rental agreement. However, a host may agree with beneficiaries in the accommodation to have certain costs such as utilities covered by them.

The requirements of the scheme are quite clear. Where a rental agreement is in place, ARP will not be payable to a host as provided for in section 6(1)(e) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. Section 6(4) of the Act of 2022 defines a rental agreement as “an agreement or arrangement under which one party grants to the other party a right to occupy all or part of a dwelling, subject to the payment of money by that other party to the first-mentioned party.”

The Government continues to keep the operation of the scheme under review.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of recipients of the accommodation recognition payment are doing so in respect of a property which is not their own principle primary residence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13099/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment was introduced to recognise the generosity of private individuals who have provided accommodation on a humanitarian basis to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine. The monthly payment rate under this scheme is €800 per property with a unique Eircode, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or shared with the host.

The information that the Deputy has requested is not available as this data is not collected. As previously mentioned, the payment is available to hosts irrespective of whether the property is their principal residence, provided the scheme’s eligibility criteria are met. It is also open to a tenant to apply for the payment, in place of the owner, provided they have the consent of any other owners or tenants.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the meetings she has had, any written briefings she has received, or other information brought to her attention in respect of the accommodation recognition payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13100/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm for the Deputy that I was briefed by officials in the usual course on arrival in this Department and the Accommodation Recognition Payment was flagged as a priority. I have also been briefed in person and in writing when considering the scheme’s future.

As required under the governing legislation, I have consulted with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on the scheme’s future.

I have also received correspondence from numerous stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society organisations, public officials and members of the public, concerning the scheme and its future.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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427. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has sought or received any briefings, reports or analysis on the impact that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13101/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not sought or received reports or analysis on impacts that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector.

However, before considering extending the scheme, my Department consulted its key pledge stakeholders; the Irish Red Cross, the International Organisation for Migration and the Local Government Management Agency, via survey and facilitated discussion, as well as the Ukraine Civil Society and Action Forums through a survey only.

The scheme has been of huge value in supporting the State to meet the accommodation needs of those beneficiaries who have sought refuge here. As of 10 March 2025, there were almost 20,100 active claims in payment in respect of hosting over 37,200 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs).

Rather than interfering with the rental market, the scheme has been responsible for introducing a stream of accommodation that wouldn’t have been otherwise available, diverting BOTPs away from state-contracted accommodation and the private rental sector – a view expressed by a number of support organisations in recent submissions to me seeking an extension of the scheme.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment is not rent. It is not compensation. It is a recognition of the humanitarian hosting of Ukrainians fleeing a war.

The scheme is also a more cost-effective solution for the State than commercial accommodation. It has allowed us to move away from a total reliance on tourism and hospitality settings, and has enabled us to better consolidate our accommodation portfolio generally.

As the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended to 4 March 2026, consideration is being given to the extension of the scheme. A decision will be made shortly.