Rent subsidy for Ukrainians extended for a year
A rent subsidy of up to €600 a month for people in Ireland hosting refugees from Ukraine has been extended for another year, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has confirmed.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Justice.
The ARP scheme is due to lapse on March 31, but is now set to be extended by ministerial order.
In response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy, Minister O’Callaghan said: “The scheme has been successful in accommodating almost 63,500 temporary protection beneficiaries outside of State-contracted accommodation since it commenced in 2022.
“Some 42,000 people are currently living in almost 23,500 hosted accommodations with the support of the scheme.
“It is my intention to seek Oireachtas approval to extend the scheme for a further year to March 31, 2027 to align with the timeframe for the Temporary Protection Directive, and allow for an orderly wind-down of the scheme in advance of the end of the application of that EU Directive to the war in Ukraine.”
The move was criticised by Mr Carthy, who said: “The Government have repeatedly ignored warnings about serious problems with the ARP scheme.
“It ignored the fact the scheme is impacting on the private rental market. Initially, this scheme was an emergency measure to support those who opened up their own homes to people fleeing war.
“However, over time, increasing numbers of landlords in the private rented sector have availed of the ARP because in some areas it is financially advantageous to them compared to renting to other tenants.”
He added: “The ARP created significant pressure within the rental system, driving up rents in many counties, and is deeply unfair because it gives access to a non-means-tested housing support to one group of people which is not available to others.
“The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 is making properties that were registered with the Rental Tenancies Board since 2022 ineligible for the ARP.
“This scheme should not be renewed unless a means test is introduced, top-up payments are banned, and the ARP is confined to those hosting in their own homes.”
“Some 42,000 people are currently living in almost 23,500 hosted accommodations with the support of the scheme."
The Irish Daily Mail previously reported that the scheme is having a “negative impact” on the rental market, with some landlords evicting tenants and then using the same property to house Ukrainians.
Under new rules to come into law this year, any property that has been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board since 2022 will be exempt from the ARP, due to concerns over the impact on the market.
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