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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Kerry fifth highest in Ireland for housing Ukrainians
Under the APR scheme, a €600 payment is paid by the state to householders who open up their homes to provide accommodation for Ukrainians who have fled war in their country since 2022. As of July 13, 2025, 1,308 households in Kerry are registered as being in receipt of the payment. The figure for Kerry has risen year on year since January 2023 when 87 homes were registered. This increased to 481 in 2024, 1,105 in January 2025, before increasing further to 1,308 in July. The latest figures were revealed by Minister for Justice and Equality Jim O'Callaghan following a query from Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy. Since the scheme was launched in July 2022, over €339m has been paid to some 26,100 recipients in respect of hosting over 56,700 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 13 July 2025, some 16,900 hosts are accommodating almost 39,600 temporary protection beneficiaries in over 21,800 properties supported by the ARP.
Irish Independent
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
More than 400 households in Wicklow reimbursed for housing Ukrainian refugees
The ARP is a tax-free monthly financial contribution of €600 available to households who provide accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive since March 2022. Figures released to Sinn Féin's spokesperson on migration, Matt Carthy TD, reveal that the number of properties nationwide in receipt of ARP rose from 4,245 in January 2023 to 21,803 by mid-July of this year, a rise of over 17,500. In Wicklow, the number has jumped from 154 to 463 over the same period. Deputy John Brady has raised concern at what he calls 'a significant and worrying increase in the number of private properties being brought into the ARP scheme. 'In Wicklow alone, we have seen ARP properties triple in the space of just 18 months. This is happening while thousands of families in the county are being priced out of the private rental market. This is particularly concerning when only 58 properties are currently available to rent in the county'. The Wicklow TD said that the government had failed to acknowledge the impact of the scheme on rental supply. 'We are in the middle of a housing emergency', he said. 'Instead of protecting tenants or investing in long-term housing solutions, the government has created a system where landlords can cash in on the ARP, avoid the rules of the private rental sector, and bypass tenant many protections'. The figures show that 21,803 properties are being paid under the scheme, provided by just 16,900 owners. Deputy Brady claimed landlords are taking advantage of a state-funded scheme with 'little oversight or long-term benefit to the housing system'. 'This is a direct consequence of the government's failure to plan and their refusal to engage in proper housing reform. Wicklow families are being left behind while landlords are benefitting' he added. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
RTÉ News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Sinn Féin call for review of Government refugee accommodation plans
Sinn Féin has called for a review of the Government's policy of paying people to allow Ukrainian refugees to use their spare rooms or properties, saying the scheme is unfair on other people, and is potentially disrupting the wider rental market. The party's Justice, Home Affairs and Migration spokesperson Matt Carthy called for the policy to be examined, before rejecting claims he and his party are using the issue to "dog whistle" to anti-immigrant groups. According to figures obtained by Sinn Féin, the number of properties receiving a payment under the Government accommodation recognition payment scheme rose by 17% between January and July of this year. This, a party statement said, is "deeply unfair" to other people who are renting as the supports are not means-tested, and are distorting the wider rental market. Asked about the claims by journalists today, Mr Carthy said the "evidence appears to be bearing out" the Sinn Féin concerns, but did not provide specific examples of how this is the case. He said the scheme is giving landlords "a tax free payment" of hundreds of euro a month to cover costs, as well as "top up payments", which he said are "unregulated". 'Wide open for landlords' While saying the initial objective of the policy, namely to help Ukrainians fleeing war, was "laudable", Mr Carthy said subsequent changes by Government have left the scheme "wide open for landlords" and others to use the scheme, saying that 21,000 properties owned by less than 17,000 people are the subject of payments. Mr Carthy said "now is the time to carry out a review", but said when asked if the call is a "dog whistle" to anti-immigrant groups: "This is about setting out very clearly that what is going on is fair." The Sinn Féin TD said his party "wouldn't want to see at the end of this a cliff edge where people housed under this scheme all of a sudden become homeless, no one's suggesting that". However, he added that "nothing" causes "social anxiety or division more than if people see one set of people being treated differently than another set in housing need".
Irish Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Concern about impact of Goverment scheme for housing Ukrainian refugees
Concern has been voiced about the impact of a Government scheme for housing refugees from Ukraine on the private rental sector as new figures show the number of private properties being used has increased by 17 per cent since the start of the year. A record number of over 21,800 dwellings are currently being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees under the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme, according to the latest figures from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It represents an increase of over 3,100 additional properties being involved in the ARP scheme since January. Owners or tenants of such properties were entitled to claim a monthly payment of €800 for housing Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive but the sum has been reduced to €600 per month since June 1. A total of 21,803 properties are now being used as part of the ARP scheme to provide homes to almost 39,600 Ukrainian refugees with 16,900 hosts in receipt of monthly payments. The figures show that over €339 million has been paid to date to 26,100 recipients for hosting 56,700 temporary protection beneficiaries since the scheme was launched in July 2022. The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin's justice, home affairs and migration spokesperson, Matt Carthy. Not surprisingly, the largest number of properties involved in the scheme are located in Dublin with almost 3,300 currently housing refugees from Ukraine. A child carrying a dog seen at Lviv Railway station (Image: Mykola Tys/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) The second highest number is in Donegal where 2,070 private properties are in use followed by Cork (1,611) Mayo (1,425) and Kerry (1,308). The smallest number is 128 in Roscommon. The figures indicate that approximately one per cent of the Republic's 2.1 million housing stock is being used to house Ukrainian refugees with varying differences across the country. The proportion ranges from an estimated 2.4 per cent of all dwellings in Donegal to just 0.4 per cent of all homes in Roscommon. Other counties with a high proportion of their housing stock being used to accommodate refugees from Ukraine are Leitrim (2.2 per cent), Mayo (2.1 per cent) and Carlow and Longford (both two per cent). Less than one per cent of residences in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Kilkenny and Wicklow are involved in the scheme. The number of properties being used to house Ukrainian refugees has risen by at least 10 per cent since the start of the year in all counties with the exception of Kildare and Kilkenny where the increases were at a slower rate. Mr Carthy said Sinn Féin has never received a satisfactory answer from the Minister of Justice about the impact of the ARP on the private rental sector. The Cavan-Monaghan TD has sharply criticised how the EU Temporary Protection Directive has been operated in Ireland and claimed 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. He claimed the measure was also driving up rents particularly in parts of the country that traditionally had lower rents. Ukrainian refugee family waiting for train in station (sock) Mr Carthy said the numbers in some areas like Donegal were huge with over 2,000 properties being used for the ARP. 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. Asked by the Sinn Féin TD about the impact of the ARP scheme on the private rented sector , the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan, said his department was awaiting the outcome of an analysis being carried out by the Department of Housing in conjunction 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. Property owners or tenants were originally paid a rate of €400 per month when the scheme was introduced before it was increased to €800 per month in December 2022 and lowered to €600 last month. Accommodation must be provided for at least six months and meet the required standards in relation to structural condition, fire safety, ventilation and various facilities. The ARP scheme has been extended to March 31, 2026 in line with the extension of the EU Temporary Protection Directive Separate figures provided by Mr O'Callaghan earlier this month show that the State had contracts with 670 different commercial properties including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation at the start of July to provide temporary accommodation to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine in addition to the ARP scheme. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Examiner
20-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Use of private properties to house Ukrainian refugees up by 17% this year
Concern has been voiced about the impact of a Government scheme for housing refugees from Ukraine on the private rental sector as new figures show the number of private properties being used has increased by 17% since the start of the year. A record number of over 21,800 dwellings are currently being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees under the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme, according to the latest figures from the Department of Justice. It represents an increase of over 3,100 additional properties being involved in the ARP scheme since January. Owners or tenants of such properties were entitled to claim a monthly payment of €800 for housing Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive but the sum has been reduced to €600 per month since June 1. Sinn Féín justice spokesperson Matt Carthy said the 'deeply unfair' scheme '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.' File picture: Liam McBurney/PA A total of 21,803 properties are now being used as part of the ARP scheme to provide homes to almost 39,600 Ukrainian refugees with 16,900 hosts in receipt of monthly payments. The figures show that over €339 million has been paid to date to 26,100 recipients for hosting 56,700 temporary protection beneficiaries since the scheme was launched in July 2022. The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin's justice spokesperson, Matt Carthy. Highest numbers in Dublin, Donegal, and Cork Not surprisingly, the largest number of properties involved in the scheme are located in Dublin with almost 3,300 currently housing refugees from Ukraine. The second highest number is in Donegal where 2,070 private properties are in use followed by Cork (1,611) Mayo (1,425) and Kerry (1,308). Scheme uses 1% of Ireland's housing stock The figures indicate that approximately 1% of the Republic's stock of 2.1m homes is being used to house Ukrainian refugees with varying differences across the country. The proportion ranges from an estimated 2.4% of all dwellings in Donegal to just 0.4% of all homes in Roscommon. Less than 1% of residences in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Kilkenny and Wicklow are involved in the scheme. The number of properties being used to house Ukrainian refugees has risen by at least 10% since the start of the year in all counties with the exception of Kildare and Kilkenny where the increases were at a slower rate. 'Deeply unfair' scheme Mr Carthy criticised how the EU Temporary Protection Directive has been operated in Ireland and claimed the ARP is 'deeply unfair and caused huge divisions within communities". Mr Carthy said: 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. He claimed the measure was also driving up rents particularly in parts of the country that traditionally had lower rents. '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. Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, this month. Picture: Michael Shtekel/AP 'It indicates that landlords are availing of this scheme because it financially benefits them while avoiding the normal obligations and responsibilities regarding tenancies." Department and RTB analysing scheme Asked by the Sinn Féin TD about the impact of the ARP scheme on the private rented sector, justice minister Jim O'Callaghan said his department is awaiting the outcome of an analysis being carried out by the Department of Housing in conjunction with the Residential Tenancies Board. Property owners or tenants were originally paid a rate of €400 per month when the scheme was introduced before it was increased to €800 per month in December 2022 and lowered to €600 last month. Accommodation must be provided for at least six months and meet the required standards in relation to structural condition, fire safety, ventilation and various facilities. The ARP scheme has been extended to March 31, 2026 in line with the extension of the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Separate figures provided by Mr O'Callaghan earlier this month show that the State had contracts with 670 different commercial properties including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation at the start of July to provide temporary accommodation to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine in addition to the ARP scheme.
