Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will give serious consideration to the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the ARP payment scheme for displaced Ukrainian people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57495/25]

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. The scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf. Some 41,000 persons who have fled the war in Ukraine are currently being accommodated in almost 23,000 hosted accommodations with the support of this scheme.

The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. Under section 6(1)(d) of the Act of 2022, “one or more temporary protection beneficiaries [must] occupy the dwelling or part of the dwelling on the last day of the calendar month” in order for an applicant to qualify for payment. The Department of Social Protection does not have discretion to make a payment in cases where this criterion is not met. Efforts have also been made to publicise this requirement.

It should be noted that participation in the ARP scheme does not create a tenant-landlord relationship and, as such, a beneficiary is free to leave the accommodation at any time. The beneficiary and the host may have a licence agreement in relation to notice period, but it is not mandatory to have one in place.

All decisions under the ARP scheme are guided by relevant legislation to ensure that all customers are treated in a fair and impartial manner.

I appreciate the concern raised by the Deputy, however, while the legislation is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 in the manner described.