Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
5. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify whether she intends to taper benefits received by beneficiaries of temporary protection in advance of the ending of the temporary protection directive in 2025. [18469/24]
View answerThis is an area the Minister and I have discussed before. The temporary protection directive ends next spring. It is not fair on anyone, including those in receipt of payments currently who are under temporary protection, that there be a cliff edge and uncertainty as to what will happen after that date. The Minister has made a number of remarks, not always necessarily to the same effect, in recent months, so I want to know what the Department's position is at this time and how she intends to prepare for the ending of the directive.
The war in Ukraine has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. Ireland has responded to the war with a co-ordinated, whole-of-government response and has provided protection and support to those who have had to flee from the violence in Ukraine. More than 106,000 people have arrived in the State since the European Council unanimously adopted the implementing decision regarding the temporary protection directive in March 2022. In October 2023, the EU Council agreed to extend the period of temporary protection to March 2025. Options as to what arrangements might be in place after March 2025 are being considered at EU level, and the Minister for Justice is the lead Minister for Ireland.
The Government has recently implemented changes to the supports to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Under the revised approach, beneficiaries of temporary protection who seek State accommodation are accommodated in designated accommodation centres for a maximum of 90 days, during which time they receive a reduced weekly payment of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. When they leave the designated accommodation centres or if they make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival, they are entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance equivalent to that to which Irish citizens are entitled, subject to meeting the eligibility conditions. The changes have been widely communicated to the Ukrainian community both in Ireland and elsewhere to ensure people make informed decisions on coming to Ireland.
These changes bring the supports being provided into increased alignment with those of other member states. They also incentivise independence and integration into communities. People who are not being accommodated by the State require support, including social welfare support, to live independently in the same way as all other citizens.
There has been a notable drop in the number of people arriving from Ukraine and seeking temporary protection since the beginning of 2024. In addition, the number of Ukrainians relying on State-provided accommodation is decreasing every week as people focus on becoming more independent, living independently and integrating into local communities, with some leaving the country to return to Ukraine. The CSO estimates that more than 22,000 people granted temporary protection are no longer in the State.
Any further changes to payments for beneficiaries of temporary protection will be considered on a whole-of-government basis.
It was absolutely right and necessary that people who were fleeing war and the aggression of the Russian Government would be in a position to receive protection, and the Irish people have responded with great generosity. There is no question about that. The changes that have been made already have in effect created a two-track situation between those who arrive after the date of the passing of that legislation into the temporary protection system and those who were here prior to that, even if they are in perhaps not the same accommodation but comparable accommodation. The Minister might correct me on this, but it seems to me that it is unlikely to be the case that the current dispensation will continue to apply after the ending of the temporary protection directive. She herself has indicated that there may be changes in that regard. It is only fair that people understand precisely what will happen. It is not very far away at this stage. People deserve clarity, and a coherent plan should be there for next spring.
The extension of the directive, which expires in March 2025, as I said to the Deputy, is a matter for the Minister for Justice. She is discussing that and we will decide that as part of an EU response. I have already signalled that I do not think it is sustainable long-term that people would get their accommodation provided for and receive full social welfare payments. We will look at that. It is not a decision I can make on my own. There have to be discussions with party leaders. We need to make a decision as a Government and we will do that. The legislation to reduce payments for new arrivals took effect only in March, and it is only April now. As I said, I will discuss this with the party leaders, the Ministers, Deputies O'Gorman and McEntee, and other Government colleagues and we will come up with a pathway forward on it.
While it is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, social welfare policy is the responsibility of the Minister opposite. In any event, further clarity is needed at the earliest possible date. It is not very clear what the picture is at this point.
I will ask another question. The Minister was involved in devising the new approach in respect of designated accommodation centres. Obviously, there are likely to be children in those locations. I disagree, incidentally, with being forced out after 90 days. I think that in a lot of instances people will not be in a position to find accommodation and in other instances they will be competing in a competitive rental market. In any event, will the children who are there for those first 90 days receive education? If so, where will they receive it? Will it be in the centres or in local schools?
As the Deputy said, that does not come under my remit. I will have to raise that issue with the relevant Minister and ask him or her to come back to the Deputy on it.
I have to remind the Deputy that he and colleagues of his have said in the past that not only should Ukrainians get full social welfare payments but all refugees arriving in this country should get the same treatment. That is in stark contrast to what he is saying to me today. Is this a change in approach from Sinn Féin? I saw the video he did outside the Dáil yesterday.
The Minister is a fan.
I have also seen some of the Sinn Féin election leaflets referring to open borders. We are an island. The only open border we have is with Northern Ireland, and I do not think the Deputy would suggest we have a hard border with Northern Ireland because, in fairness, we put in a huge amount of work-----
No border.
-----and a huge effort during Brexit to make sure we would not have such a hard border.
No border.
We know what we heard from Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson on Brexit, "It is time to take back our borders", and we know where that ended up, so we need to be very careful here.
Táimid thar am.
Does the Minister wish me to respond?
No thank you. She may well, but you are not doing so. Go raibh maith agat. Tá mé ag bogadh ar aghaidh.
It did appear that she wanted a response.
Deputy, thank you.
I am very happy to respond if the Minister wishes me to do so.
Deputy, please. We waited for Priority Questions.
