The EU has introduced a range of flexibilities to address the impact of the influx of Ukrainian refugees including a regulation on Cohesion Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) allowing for the swift release and reallocation of existing cohesion policy funding.
In addition, Ireland receives existing funding under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to support migrant integration, protection and returns programmes, and receives support for an Integration and Employment of Migrants scheme under the European Social Fund. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has responsibility for the AMIF while the ESF is managed by the Department of Further and Higher Education.
The CARE Regulation introduced four main changes to cohesion policy rules to maximise the speed and ease with which Member States can help people fleeing Ukraine, while continuing to support regions' recovery:
- It extended the time for availing of 100% EU co-financing for 2014-2020 Cohesion policy funding;
- It allowed full flexibility for Member States and regions to use resources from either the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) or the European Social Fund (ESF) for any type of measures to support people fleeing Ukraine;
- It backdated eligibility for Member State spending on all actions helping people fleeing Ukraine to the start date of the Russian invasion (24 February 2022);and
- It simplified the reporting and the programme modifications requirements.
Member States were also permitted to use existing funds not yet programmed under the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU), a post-COVID recovery package and all unallocated resources under the current 2014-2020 funding period where programmes are drawing to a close. Ireland is making use of remaining unallocated funding under the European Regional Development Fund (€0.4m) and REACT-EU (€53m) for this purpose.
My Department is currently working closely with other Government Departments and agencies to determine the range of existing activities supporting Ukrainian refugees which could be financed under this mechanism. It is anticipated that these may include:
- Use of a straightforward, ready-to-use unit cost or ‘Simplified Cost Option’ (SCO) to provide for a per capita payment of €40 for up to 13 weeks for each Ukrainian refugee. This will support a number of measures assisting Ukrainian refugees on arrival in Ireland including, for example, reception, processing and transport;
- Short-term and medium term accommodation.
Funding will be disbursed through programme activities under the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund over the period up to July 2023. Programme beneficiaries will submit claims for expenditure on eligible activities and be reimbursed.
