Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
455. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); and if she will provide support to resolve these situations in future. [11245/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to persons who have fled the war and received temporary protection in Ireland. Of over 124,000 persons who have arrived in Ireland, over 94,000 have been assisted in this way. I would like to acknowledge the very significant part played by all hosts who have provided a home for those fleeing the war.
From 14 March 2024 a timebound accommodation policy was introduced in order to ensure Ireland could continue to provide accommodation for those most in need fleeing the war in Ukraine in a sustainable manner. Under this policy new arrivals were entitled to 90 days of accommodation in a Designated Accommodation Centre (DAC). While in a DAC residents received food, laundry and integration supports to assist with securing independent accommodation and employment. Due to a significant increase in arrivals and pressure on the DAC system, the period of accommodation was reduced to 30 days from 10 November 2025.
To complement this approach to State-contracted commercial accommodation, since September 2025, people with temporary protection who arrived in Ireland before March 2024, and who are not already in State-contracted commercial accommodation, are not eligible to take up new State-contracted commercial accommodation. This means that people who may have been in accommodation but have since left cannot avail of a second offer of State-contracted commercial accommodation. This also applies to people who arrived before March 2024 and did not take up State-contracted commercial accommodation to date.
In the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, the people in question would not be able to access commercial accommodation contracted by my Department. However, a range of measures have been provided to support temporary protection beneficiaries to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for their duration of their Temporary Protection. This includes supports for those engaged in hosting arrangements, such as the Accommodation Recognition Payment.
Hosting arrangements are a private matter between the host and the temporary protection beneficiaries living in the accommodation. Hosting arrangements can be terminated at any stage by either party if the arrangements are no longer satisfactory.
Where hosting arrangements are coming to an end, temporary protection beneficiaries are entitled to make their own private arrangements for accommodation through their own means, using supports provided by the Department of Social Protection (e.g. Rent Supplement), or by asking their Local Authority or Irish Red Cross for alternative hosted accommodation. Those wishing to avail of hosted accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross.
