Concerns have been raised about how a Government initiative to house Ukrainian refugees is affecting the private rental market, as new data shows a 17 per cent increase in the use of private homes for the scheme since the beginning of the year, reports The Mirror.
According to the latest data from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, more than 21,800 homes are currently being used to shelter Ukrainian refugees through the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme — a record number.
This marks an increase of over 3,100 additional homes being used in the ARP programme since January. Initially, owners or tenants of such homes were entitled to a monthly payment of €800 for accommodating Ukrainian refugees under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. However, the rate was cut to €600 per month as of June 1, reports The Mirror.
At present, 21,803 homes are being utilised in the ARP scheme to accommodate nearly 39,600 Ukrainian refugees, with 16,900 hosts receiving monthly payments.
Since the scheme began in July 2022, over €339 million has been disbursed to 26,100 individuals for providing accommodation to 56,700 beneficiaries under temporary protection, reports The Mirror.
The figures were released in response to a Dáil question from Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for justice, home affairs and migration, Matt Carthy.
Unsurprisingly, the highest number of homes in the scheme are in Dublin, with close to 3,300 currently housing Ukrainian refugees, reports The Mirror.
Donegal has the second highest count at 2,070 private homes, followed by Cork (1,611), Mayo (1,425) and Kerry (1,308). Roscommon has the fewest, with only 128 homes involved.
Roughly one per cent of Ireland’s 2.1 million housing units are now being used to house Ukrainian refugees, though the rate differs across regions, reports The Mirror.
The share ranges from around 2.4 per cent of all homes in Donegal to just 0.4 per cent in Roscommon.
Other counties with relatively high usage of their housing stock for Ukrainian refugees include Leitrim (2.2 per cent), Mayo (2.1 per cent), and Carlow and Longford (both at two per cent).
In contrast, less than one per cent of homes in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Kilkenny and Wicklow are part of the scheme, reports The Mirror.
All counties have seen an increase of at least 10 per cent in homes used for Ukrainian refugees since the start of the year, except for Kildare and Kilkenny, where growth has been slower.
Mr Carthy said Sinn Féin has never received a clear answer from the Minister for Justice about the ARP’s effect on the private rental market, reports The Mirror.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD has strongly criticised how the EU Temporary Protection Directive is being implemented in Ireland and said the ARP is “deeply unfair and caused huge divisions within communities.”
“It gave Ukrainians access to housing supports without a means test that was available to no other person including those on lower wages trying to secure housing,” said Mr Carthy, reports The Mirror.
He also argued that the scheme is contributing to rising rents, particularly in areas where housing costs have traditionally been lower.
Mr Carthy said the figures in places like Donegal were particularly large, with over 2,000 properties being used under the ARP, reports The Mirror.
He added: “These figures also show that there are significantly more properties than property owners coming under the scheme. There are 21,803 properties being provided by 16,900 owners which clearly means that a significant number of people have more than one property under this scheme. It indicates that landlords are availing of this scheme because it financially benefits them while avoiding the normal obligations and responsibilities regarding tenancies,” said Mr Carthy, reports The Mirror.
When asked by the Sinn Féin TD about the ARP’s effect on the private rental market, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, said his department is waiting for the results of an evaluation being conducted by the Department of Housing in partnership with the Residential Tenancies Board.
“There is ongoing engagement by my department with the Department of Housing in respect of the scheme,” said Mr O’Callaghan, reports The Mirror.
Initially, property owners or tenants were paid €400 per month when the scheme was launched. This was raised to €800 in December 2022, before being reduced to €600 last month.
To qualify, accommodation must be offered for at least six months and comply with standards for structural safety, fire protection, ventilation, and other facilities, reports The Mirror.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
