Government may move to cut social welfare for all Ukrainians in State-accommodation 'down the road'

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said that there may be a decision made to reduce social welfare payments to all Ukrainian refugees, 'regardless of what date they arrived'. Picture: Julien Behal Photography

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said the Government may move to cut social welfare for all Ukrainians in State-accommodation “down the road”.

Speaking in the Dáil, Ms Humphreys said that there may be a decision made to reduce social welfare payments to all Ukrainian refugees, “regardless of what date they arrived”.

This week, the Dáil voted to cut welfare payments to new arrivals from Ukraine, with 108 TDs voting in favour of the legislation compared to 15 against.

As part of the plans, weekly payments to newly-arrived Ukrainian refugees will go from €220 to €38.80, once the legislation passes through the Seanad and is signed by the President.

The new rules will also see the Government introduce a 90-day time limit for Ukrainian refugees staying in State accommodation.

Ms Humphreys said that there are lots of people coming from Ukraine who have secured their own accommodation since arriving in Ireland.

“People have to take responsibility for themselves and decide that if they are going to stay in Ireland, then they will either have to get a job, find their own accommodation or move on,” Ms Humphreys said.

She added that while they are in State accommodation, they will be supported in both finding employment and sourcing private accommodation, either in the private rental market or through the Red Cross house pledge scheme.

The social protection minister also said that it is “impossible” to predict whether or not the new 90-day housing policy will increase homelessness in Ukrainian refugees.

“What we do know is that a no-change policy carries risk given current accommodation constraints in Ireland and the challenges of continuing to source accommodation, in light of migratory pressures and crisis situations,” Ms Humphreys told the Dáil.

“The present policy of support does not align with other member states or incentivise independence or integration into communities.” 

As part of the new plans, newly-arrived Ukrainians are due to stay within set accommodation centres. 

The first of these are due to be located in Stradbally in Co Laois and Ballyogan in Dublin.

Once Ukrainian refugees leave the State accommodation, they will be able to claim higher levels of social welfare, if they qualify.

Ukrainian refugees will also be entitled to full child benefit payments while in State accommodation.