Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the changes he will introduce to the accommodation recognition scheme in view of its impact on the private rental market, and the fact that landlords are using this scheme to avoid tenancy obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54043/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a goodwill payment to recognise the contribution of hosts who have opened their homes to temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine. Over 40,500 persons who have fled the war in Ukraine are being accommodated in over 22,500 hosted accommodations with the support of this scheme.

ARP is not intended to substitute rent. It is not payable where there is a rental agreement in place between the host and the guest. According to research from the Irish Red Cross, the vast majority of hosts that avail of the ARP were never and have no future plans to be landlords.

I am aware of the concerns about the impact of the ARP scheme on the private rental market. Analysis carried out by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for the Minister for Housing suggests that some landlords could be diverting accommodation from the private rental sector to benefit from the ARP. It is difficult to reach definitive conclusions on the matter, given wider issues impacting housing supply.

I can, however, confirm that the Government agreed to a proposal brought jointly by the Minister for Housing and myself for the governing legislation to be amended to limit eligibility for the ARP to properties that are not rental properties with a view to safeguarding such accommodation for tenants.

This proposal follows the recent reduction in the ARP monthly contribution rate from €800 to €600 per month, which also sought to mitigate any unintended impact of the scheme on the private rental market.