Minister O'Callaghan and I have recently received government approval for measures to transition Ukraine Accommodation Supports and Temporary Protection, in line with the EU Council recommendation for a co-ordinated approach across Member States.
It should be noted that Ireland intends to continue to support people from Ukraine who are beneficiaries of temporary protection and that this will continue for as long as the Temporary Protection Directive is in place. Ongoing supports for people with particular circumstances that would make it difficult for them to manage in independent accommodation will be provided. In such cases individuals will be asked to self-declare their need for continued accommodation and provide evidence to support such a requirement, by providing documentary evidence of their circumstances.
In recognition of the valuable contribution many people who have come from Ukraine since the outbreak of the war have made, for those who wish to rescind their temporary protection status, Ireland will introduce an alternative permission for those who are eligible to live and work here independently. This permission will be granted for a period of up to two years, renewable for periods of two years thereafter, with time on the permission counting towards naturalisation.
The Government has approved the phase out of State-funded accommodation that has been provided to people from Ukraine who arrived pre–March 2024 and have been in receipt of accommodation on an ongoing basis. Ireland’s State-funded accommodation model for people from Ukraine is in excess of that offered across the EU and is in excess of what is available to other people living in Ireland.
Coordinated work between the department, Irish Red Cross, the International Organisation for Migration and other relevant advocates and stakeholders will ensure that individuals can make decisions about their future options in Ireland with as much clarity as possible.
