Ireland is planning to make changes to its policy on Ukrainian refugees, including the termination of free housing for new arrivals from March 2025. Find out about the new residence rules, changes in social benefits and prospects for Ukrainians seeking asylum in Ireland

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The Irish government is considering significant changes to its policy on Ukrainian refugees. According to The Irish Times, these changes are aimed at optimizing public spending and encouraging Ukrainians who came to the country because of Russian aggression to become self-sufficient. What the government proposes and how it will affect refugees is described in the article below.

Read all about the entry rules, temporary protection, major changes for refugees and financial support for Ukrainians in Ireland in our previous article.

Termination of free housing and other changes from 2025

According to The Irish Times, it is planned to stop providing free housing to newly arrived Ukrainian refugees from March 2025. This decision is currently under development and is part of a broader government strategy.

It is known that as of 2024, about 35,833 Ukrainian refugees were living in free housing provided by Ireland. This figure has significantly decreased compared to 2023, when the number of Ukrainians in such housing was 58,830.

In addition, the Irish government is considering a number of other measures to address the situation:

1. Introducing a “maximum stay” rule for those who have been living in free housing for the longest time.

2. Restrictions on publicly funded accommodation for Ukrainians whose income exceeds a certain threshold.

3. Possible deprivation of the right to re-access public housing upon returning to Ireland after a period abroad.

These initiatives have not yet been widely discussed among ministers or considered by the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine. However, given the general trend, we can expect further changes in the policy towards Ukrainian refugees.

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Changes in social benefits from 2024

It is worth reminding that the Irish government has already taken certain measures to provide social support to Ukrainian refugees. In particular, since 2024:

– Reduced social benefits

– Residence is limited to 90 days for newly arrived refugees from Ukraine.

– The system of payments for those living in serviced residential buildings has been changed.

It has also recently become known that Ukrainian refugees in Ireland have been relocated and banned from living with animals.

According to the Department of Social Protection, in September, 5,067 people received minimum payments. At the same time, about 98% of people living in special accommodation centers are obliged to pay contributions for food and other utilities.

It is important to note that Ukrainians still benefit from the Temporary Protection Directive, which allows them to live and work in the European Union. This directive is valid until March 2026, and preparations are underway at the official level.

The Irish government is trying to balance the provision of assistance to Ukrainian refugees with the need to optimize public spending and encourage the integration of Ukrainians into local society. The situation continues to evolve and further changes in the policy towards Ukrainian refugees in Ireland are possible.

We remind you! Migration trends among Ukrainians, in particular with the aim of changing the country of temporary protection, are increasing, as the conditions of stay and financial assistance are changing. Read which countries will grant repeated temporary protection in 2024 and what is needed to move in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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