Call for 'significant changes' to Ukrainian accommodation scheme

Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD described the plan to renew the Ukrainian Accommodation Recognition Scheme for another year as "wrong"

He criticised the plan, and said it needs "significant changes".

Deputy Carthy was speaking after the Minister for Justice confirmed in reply to a parliamentary question that he would be extending the Accommodation Recognition Payment to the end of March 2027.

“The Government have repeatedly ignored warnings about serious problems with the Ukrainian Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme. It ignored the fact that the scheme is impacting on the private rental market," he said.

“Initially, this scheme was an emergency measure to support those who opened up their own homes to people fleeing war. However, over time, increasing numbers of landlords in the private rented sector have availed of the ARP because in some areas it is financially advantageous to them compared to renting to other potential tenants.

“The ARP created significant pressure within the rental system, driving up rents in many counties, and is deeply unfair because it gives access to a non-means tested housing support to one group of people which is not available to others, even where others may be on lower wages," he believes.

“The Government ignored repeated calls for this scheme to be subject to a means test and for the release of any assessments or reports which they have in relation to the impact of the scheme on the private rented sector.

He said the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 is making properties that were registered with the Rental Tenancies Board since 2022 "ineligible" for the ARP.

"Almost four years after the scheme was introduced this amounts to closing the stable door after the horse has bolted," he claims.

“This scheme should not be renewed unless a means test is introduced, top up payments are banned, and the ARP is confined to those hosting in their own homes," he concluded.