Hermann Kelly IFP

3.4 billion euro - This money should be going to Irish people. Not to Ukrainians or anyone else. ... "More than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived to the Republic since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022. Some 83,000 now live in Ireland. Numbers of Ukrainian refugees coming in has increased in recent months, with the Department of Justice attributing this to law changes in Ukraine which allowed men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country. The total number of Ukrainian refugees which arrived last September was 1,781 - this is the highest since the end of 2023. The Irish government is now also considering plans to limit the length of time during which state accommodation is offered to new refugee arrivals from 90 days to 30 days. Long-term plans being considered by government also include whether to further phase out and ultimately wind down the €600 (£526) payment paid to people who house Ukrainian refugees. The total cost of the housing program for Ukrainians since 2022 has already reached €3.4 billion, which is a cause for concern in the context of the burden on Ireland's budget and the needs of other social programs. More than €141 million was spent in 2024 alone on the Ukrainian Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme – where €800 per month is paid tax-free to anyone hosting a person or persons from Ukraine. The expenditure on the scheme is separate, and in addition to, the cost of providing accommodation centres and services for those who have arrived from Ukraine. More than 15,000 people are currently claiming the monthly Recognition Payment, which has been criticised as radically distorting the rental sector. Currently, over 15,500 hosts are accommodating almost 36,000 Ukrainians in over 19,000 accommodations. The number of private individuals hosting refugees from Ukraine quadrupled from just over 4,000 at the start of 2023 to the current number, with costs rising accordingly. The spend was detailed by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, in a breakdown of payments in 2024 by Social Welfare scheme. Each modular home for Ukrainian refugees in Clonmel to cost €436,000 on average First modular homes in Tipperary for Ukrainian war victims will be occupied soon "An additional €100m in non-lethal military support will be made available, to help Ukraine withstand the indiscriminate nightly onslaught of Russian missiles and drones. Ireland will also provide €25m for Ukraine’s energy supplies to help to counter Russia’s cynical and callous attacks," Martin said

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