Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 March 2025
427. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has sought or received any briefings, reports or analysis on the impact that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13101/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not sought or received reports or analysis on impacts that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector.
However, before considering extending the scheme, my Department consulted its key pledge stakeholders; the Irish Red Cross, the International Organisation for Migration and the Local Government Management Agency, via survey and facilitated discussion, as well as the Ukraine Civil Society and Action Forums through a survey only.
The scheme has been of huge value in supporting the State to meet the accommodation needs of those beneficiaries who have sought refuge here. As of 10 March 2025, there were almost 20,100 active claims in payment in respect of hosting over 37,200 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs).
Rather than interfering with the rental market, the scheme has been responsible for introducing a stream of accommodation that wouldn’t have been otherwise available, diverting BOTPs away from state-contracted accommodation and the private rental sector – a view expressed by a number of support organisations in recent submissions to me seeking an extension of the scheme.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment is not rent. It is not compensation. It is a recognition of the humanitarian hosting of Ukrainians fleeing a war.
The scheme is also a more cost-effective solution for the State than commercial accommodation. It has allowed us to move away from a total reliance on tourism and hospitality settings, and has enabled us to better consolidate our accommodation portfolio generally.
As the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended to 4 March 2026, consideration is being given to the extension of the scheme. A decision will be made shortly.
