Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
374. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the policy rationale for maintaining temporary protection supports, including accommodation supports, until March 2027; whether any alternative policy options were formally considered to taper supports earlier; and if he will provide details of such options. [33603/26]
View answer375. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether formal national criteria have been defined for determining, medically vulnerable status, the absence of safe housing in Ukraine for the purposes of continued eligibility for State supports; if so, to provide those criteria; and if not, the basis on which such determinations are made. [33604/26]
View answer385. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of the proposed voluntary return scheme for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine; the estimated total cost of the scheme based on projected uptake; and the policy analysis underpinning the proposed payment levels. [33608/26]
View answer386. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the timing of the proposed voluntary return scheme has been aligned with the expected cessation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive in March 2027; and if so, to provide the policy basis for that alignment. [33610/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 375, 385 and 386 together.
Ireland intends to continue to support people from Ukraine who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.
Proposals have been developed for Government in line with a recent EU Council Recommendation for a co-ordinated approach to transition people out of Temporary Protection across the EU.
Ireland is advancing the four sets of measures outlined in the Recommendation:
• Promote and facilitate the transition to other legal statuses before the end of temporary protection;
• Pave the way for a smooth and sustainable reintegration in Ukraine;
• Ensure information provision to displaced people and
• Ensure coordination, monitoring and exchange of information among Member States and with the Ukrainian authorities.
The Government will also be considering proposals to phase out state-funded accommodation that has been provided to people from Ukraine since 2022.
Any changes that are approved to this accommodation model would be introduced on a phased basis, with information and support provided to residents. The proposals will also consider ongoing supports for people with particular circumstances that would make it difficult for them to manage in independent accommodation.
There are about 16,000 people in commercial State-supported accommodation and over 40,000 people in subsidised accommodation in private homes.
The number of people living in state-provided accommodation has reduced considerably over recent years, as people source their own accommodation or move away. The Government has actively supported these moves to independence and greater integration.
While temporary protection is in place until March 2027, there may be further extensions to the directive which will be agreed at EU level.
