Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1269. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when the monthly recognition payment for persons who are hosting Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41012/22]
View answerA €400 ‘Accommodation Recognition Payment’ is available to those hosting people who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have fled the conflict in Ukraine.
The payment is a recognition of the generosity of people who have made accommodation available to victims of a humanitarian crisis, and it is linked to a minimum hosting commitment of six months.
Where a host has provided such accommodation, the payment may be back-dated to 4 March 2022 and will be made available until the end of March 2023.
Legislation to enable the payment is contained in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022. The necessary commencement order was signed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on 25 July 2022 enabling the operation of the scheme to commence from today, 26 July 2022.
Payment of the ‘Accommodation Recognition Payment’ will be administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I am happy to support Minister O’Gorman in recognising the contribution of those who opened their homes and houses to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Following the commencement order which has been signed by Minister O’Gorman, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that it is open to hosts to make their application from today, 26 July 2022, on www.MyWelfare.ie.
I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
