Cormac Devlin: Backs ARP Extension, Warns on Rental Pressure
Cormac Devlin speaks in favour of extending the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) until March 2027, arguing for an orderly wind-down and protections for hosts and Ukrainian beneficiaries. He sets out the scale of Ireland's response, the costs involved and the risks to the private rental market if supports are removed too quickly.
Cormac Devlin supports the motion to extend the ARP in line with the EU Temporary Protective Directive. He notes the scheme's reach since July 2022 and welcomes steps to provide certainty to Ukrainians living in Ireland and to the hosts who accommodated them.
Devlin cites the figures: almost €438 million paid to about 28,000 hosts supporting 64,000 beneficiaries, with more than 23,500 active claims now covering 42,000 people at a cost of roughly €14.5 million per month. He acknowledges the significant burden on the public finances and the commitment that represents.
Drawing on examples from Dun Laoghaire and counties across Ireland, he highlights the generosity of hosts and warns that reducing payments risks causing premature withdrawal of accommodation. He calls for the position of hosts to be kept under careful review to avoid displacing people into an already pressured rental market.
Devlin welcomes planning for the conclusion of temporary protection and engagement with the European Commission. He argues Ireland should help shape a coordinated, humane EU-wide approach to transition arrangements.
He concludes by urging an orderly, gradual wind-down rather than an abrupt end, seeking maximum certainty and stability for Ukrainian families and the hosts who have supported them.
Extension details
Cormac Devlin supports the motion to extend the ARP in line with the EU Temporary Protective Directive. He notes the scheme's reach since July 2022 and welcomes steps to provide certainty to Ukrainians living in Ireland and to the hosts who accommodated them.
Cost and scale
Devlin cites the figures: almost €438 million paid to about 28,000 hosts supporting 64,000 beneficiaries, with more than 23,500 active claims now covering 42,000 people at a cost of roughly €14.5 million per month. He acknowledges the significant burden on the public finances and the commitment that represents.
Hosts and local impact
Drawing on examples from Dun Laoghaire and counties across Ireland, he highlights the generosity of hosts and warns that reducing payments risks causing premature withdrawal of accommodation. He calls for the position of hosts to be kept under careful review to avoid displacing people into an already pressured rental market.
Transition and EU engagement
Devlin welcomes planning for the conclusion of temporary protection and engagement with the European Commission. He argues Ireland should help shape a coordinated, humane EU-wide approach to transition arrangements.
Conclusion and call for stability
He concludes by urging an orderly, gradual wind-down rather than an abrupt end, seeking maximum certainty and stability for Ukrainian families and the hosts who have supported them.
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Transcript
Paula, and I support and speak in favour of this motion before us this evening. Four years on from Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, Ireland's solidarity with the Ukrainian people remains as strong as ever. The government rightly played a central role in mobilising Ireland's response to the largest movement of refugees in Europe since World War II. While this presented challenges, it has largely been successful. People have been accommodated and integrated into communities right across Ireland. We all hope for a conclusion to this brutal conflict which has claimed so many lives. A lasting peace settlement in Ukraine's speedy accession to the EU is essential. The motion before us extends the Accommodation Recognition Payment, the ARP, until March 2027, in line with the EU Temporary Protective Directive. Since the scheme launched in July 2022, almost €438 million has been paid to approximately 28,000 hosts across the country, supporting 64,000 beneficiaries. As of this month, more than 23,500 active claims remain in payment, covering 42,000 people at a cost of around €14.5 million per month. This is of course a very significant cost to the taxpayer and reflects the commitment of Irish support for the Ukrainian people calling Ireland their home. Behind every claim is a family who opened their home, and a Ukrainian family finding their feet in a new community. Like in my own constituency of Dun Laoghaire, and across every county in Ireland, hosts have shown extraordinary generosity, and this motion honours that contribution. I note that alongside the extension, the monthly payment is to be reduced from €600 to €400, returning to the original rate when the scheme was initially launched. I understand the rationale, and there are legitimate concerns about the ARP's interaction with the private rental market, and it is right that we manage this carefully. An orderly, gradual wind-down is a preferable one to an abrupt end to the scheme. However, I would ask that the position of the hosts is kept under close review. Many of them have taken on real costs. The reduction in the payment should not result in hosts withdrawing accommodation prematurely. And the risks of displacing thousands of Ukrainian beneficiaries into an already pressured private rental market is a real concern and must be avoided at all costs. Planning for the conclusion of temporary protection is underway, and I welcome the work of senior officials and the engagement with the European Commission on transition arrangements. Ireland should play an active part in shaping a co-ordinated, humane, EU-wide approach. Last Cancora, I support this motion. Ukrainians living in Ireland are a valued part of our community. Our job is now to provide as much certainty and stability as possible for them and indeed for the hosts who have done so much.