I thank colleagues for their contributions to this debate. I acknowledge and welcome the fact that the majority of the House will be supporting the order to extend the ARP until 2027. It is important to acknowledge that this was a very innovative and successful mechanism, introduced back in July 2022, to respond to the fact that Ireland held itself out as a very welcoming place for Ukrainian people who were fleeing the war in Ukraine and who were entitled to apply to be beneficiaries of temporary protection under the temporary protection directive. Approximately 23,500 claims are currently in payment in respect of 42,000 persons who are beneficiaries of temporary protection. It is having a very significant impact in providing accommodation to people who need it. Over the history of the scheme, since July 2022, approximately 64,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection have had the benefit of accommodation provided under the ARP. In many respects, one of the great imponderables about this debate is that we simply do not know what is going to happen in the war in Ukraine over the next year or so. As has been indicated, temporary protection has been extended until 2027. There will obviously be discussions later this year and early next year in respect of what should happen to the temporary protection directive. To a large extent, I suspect it will depend on what happens in the war over the summer. I also believe there is a recognition among my fellow home affairs ministers within the European Union that the temporary protection directive cannot be seen to be a permanent directive. There will have to be some recognition of its temporary nature. When the ARP scheme was originally introduced in 2022, it was very much welcomed that there was a payment of €400. That payment was predominantly for the purposes of recognising the charity of Irish people who opened their homes to Ukrainian people. It was very effective. The payment was subsequently increased to €800 and the numbers involved did rise. However, as my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, has indicated and as Deputies will be aware, from 1 June last year, the monthly payment was reduced from €800 per property per month to €600. At the time, there was concern on the part of the Minister of State and myself that this could have a very destabilising impact on the accommodation that was provided. In fact, officials indicated that could happen. Fortunately, that has not been the case and 42,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection are still being accommodated in connection with the ARP. As has been indicated, we are now going to extend the scheme until 2027, subject to the approval of the House. We will also be discussing with colleagues the proposed further reduction of the payment back to its original statutory limit of €400. The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I will carefully consider that, discuss it with colleagues and come back in due course. We will not be supporting the Sinn Féin amendment. It is interesting that Sinn Féin has very much sought to rely upon the impact the scheme has had on the rental sector. While I know they are tax-free, when you look at the payments involved and the location of the units, the properties provided pursuant to the ARP have predominantly been properties that had not previously been used in the residential tenancies market. Last year, of course, we changed the law. In fact, it was this year.
Sentiment score: 0.25
The change ensures that Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 precludes properties from the scheme that were registered with the Residential Tendencies Board at any time since March 2022. The concern that Sinn Féin has and had is now alleviated by the change in the statutory regime that was brought in by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne. I thank people for the debate and I look forward to their support when it comes to voting on the motion.
Sentiment score: 0.21
Not agreed.
Sentiment score: -0.21