Free accommodation for Ukrainians to be withdrawn by March 2027

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan says free state accommodation for Ukrainians living in Ireland will be withdrawn by March 2027

Free state accommodation for Ukrainians living in Ireland will be withdrawn by March 2027 and payments will be available to those who return home, the Justice Minister has said.

A number of changes will be made to the scheme around Ukrainians in Ireland, Jim O'Callaghan and his junior minister Colm Brophy said.

These include the phase-out of state-contracted commercial accommodation, a reduction in the payments made to households hosting Ukrainians and the development of a voluntary return programme.

Its withdrawal will start in August and is set to be completed by March 4th.

There are around 16,000 people in commercial State-supported accommodation and over 40,000 people in subsidised accommodation in private homes.

Once individuals leave State-contracted commercial accommodation and transition to independent accommodation arrangements, they will be entitled to standard social welfare assistance, equivalent to Irish citizens, subject to meeting the eligibility conditions.

Under the changes, the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) monthly contribution will be set at €400 from October 2026, down from €600.

Vulnerable individuals who want to continue to avail of state-supported accommodation will be asked to self-declare their need for continued accommodation detailing their reasons with supporting evidence and an application process will open in June.

A scheme that would allow those with temporary protection to apply for permission to remain in Ireland is also being planned.

Mr O’Callaghan said “people with vulnerabilities or particular family circumstances” living in state accommodation will be able to apply to continue living there.

He said his department had calculated approximately 5,000 people would be eligible to keep that accommodation.

Of the other 11,000, he said “many of them are working, and they are people who will be able to seek accommodation, either accommodation through friends or at the market.

“We think it’s only fair… that people who are working and who are being provided with state, free state accommodation, for what is now over four years, that they should provide for their own accommodation.” 

The accommodation recognition payment, which is made to people who have opened up their homes to Ukrainians, will also be reduced to its original level of €400 a month.

It was raised to €800, before being reduced to €600 in September 2025 and will now be cut to €400 from October.

Mr O’Callaghan said he did not believe there would be “significant changes” to the number being housed by those receiving the payment.

“I believe the 42,000 who are within that accommodation will continue there,” he said.

In 2024, he said, the state spent €1.2 billion on state-provided accommodation, and his department is aiming to reduce that to €600 million.