Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
356. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any analysis has been carried out by or received by his Department on the impact of the accommodation recognition payment on the private rental market, including any distortionary effects on supply or pricing; and if he will provide copies or summaries of such analysis. [23157/26]
View answer357. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has provided analysis or advice regarding the impact of the accommodation recognition payment on housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23158/26]
View answer358. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any comparison has been undertaken between the accommodation recognition payment and other State-supported accommodation schemes in terms of cost-effectiveness and market impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23159/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 357 and 358 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that research has been undertaken for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the impact of the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme on the private rental market. My Department had facilitated the transfer of anonymised ARP data to assist in that research.
A copy of the analysis, which was carried out by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for the Minister for Housing, has been shared with my Department. The analysis suggests some diversion of accommodation from the private rental sector to ARP. It is difficult to reach any definitive conclusions on the matter, given wider issues impacting housing supply.
Given constraints on the availability of private rental sector accommodation, the Government approved amendments to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 in July 2025 to limit eligibility for the ARP scheme to properties that had not previously been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The changes to the scheme’s eligibility criteria were introduced under Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026. From 3 March 2026, new applications for properties that have been registered with the RTB at any time since 4 March 2022 will no longer meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. Tenants in rental properties are also no longer eligible to make new applications for the scheme.
The question of the release of the analysis in question or summaries of its findings, is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Insofar as the question of comparative costs of providing accommodation for persons who fled the war in Ukraine and received temporary protection in Ireland is concerned, the cost of the ARP compares very favourably with the cost of providing such persons with accommodation contracted commercially by the state for that purpose. I am not aware of any comparisons undertaken in this regard.
It should be noted that the ARP is paid in recognition of the generosity of those who host. It is not a rent subsidy, and it is not comparable to housing support payments, such as those offered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
