Changes to Accommodation for People Fleeing War in Ukraine
New legislation to bring into effect a revised approach to supporting new arrivals from Ukraine has been commenced. This follows the Government decision in December and the passing of the relevant legislation last week.
Under the revised approach, from this Thursday, 14th March, anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine, who registers for temporary protection and is looking for State-provided accommodation in Ireland, will be accommodated for a maximum of 90 days. They will be provided with food, laundry, other services and integration supports in Designated Accommodation Centres.
Standard social welfare payments will no longer be available to a person while they are resident in Designated Accommodation Centres. They will be entitled to a reduced weekly allowance of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child in respect of daily expenses, while they are resident in Designated Accommodation Centres. Entitlement to Child Benefit is not affected by these changes.
When they leave the Designated Accommodation Centre, or if they make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival, they will be entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance, equivalent to Irish citizens subject to meeting the eligibility conditions.
The Government is making these changes in order to continue to meet the EU Temporary Protection Directive requirements, and to align more closely with other EU Member States.
These changes will not affect people from Ukraine who arrived in Ireland before this policy came into force and are already registered for temporary protection.
Six accommodation centres have been identified to provide 90 days of accommodation for new arrivals from Ukraine. The first five to be confirmed as Designated Accommodation Centres under the new legislation are:
- Ballyogan Road, Dublin City (capacity: 392)
- Stradbally, Co. Laois (capacity: 950)
- Fernbank, Limerick City (capacity: 250)
- Punchestown, Co. Kildare (capacity: 378)
- Gerald Griffin Street, Cork City (capacity: 107).
The focus of supports in designated centres will be orientation on living and working in Ireland and the options for sourcing accommodation independently. The remaining centres will be announced once finalised.
This change does not apply to people seeking international protection in Ireland, it is only for people fleeing the war in Ukraine who request temporary protection here. Further information can be found on www.gov.ie/Ukraine.
