Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland have received over €750,000,000 in social welfare payments since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in early 2022.
The Irish Mirror reported the figures which were released from the Department of Social protection showing that €754,169,000 was paid from March 2022 to the end of last month to BTOPs (beneficiaries of temporary protection) from Ukraine.
Of this €481.6 million was paid in job seekers allowance while €81.4 million was paid to persons over the age of 66 years through the state’s pension scheme.
€60.4 million was paid out in child benefit with Ukrainian refugees receiving €140 per month per child.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme paid out €21.4 million with €2.6 million of this amount designated for clothing.
€12.7 million was paid in Disability Allowance over the same period, as well as almost €6.4 million in Carer’s Allowance.
More than 110,000 Ukrainians have come to Ireland since the outbreak of the war which is mostly affecting the east of the country.
As Gript previously reported, the Cabinet recently decided to make significant cuts to the amount of social welfare paid to Ukrainian refugees, cutting it from €220 per week – the highest rate in Europe – to €38.80 per week.
However these cuts will not affect Ukrainian refugees who were in receipt of social welfare payments before the decision to reduce payment rates came into effect.
On this platform, Maria Maynes wrote, “A briefing paper from the Houses of the Oireachtas, published in October, detailed comparative social welfare rates across the EU, revealing that Ireland gave the highest weekly social welfare payments to Ukrainians across the EU.
Other EU States and the UK, meanwhile, paid between €7.90 and €131.45 per week, with most countries limiting payments where accommodation and supports were provided.
The briefing document showed that in relation to weekly payments to refugees from Ukraine, France offers €47.60 for those accommodated per week, and €99.40 per week for those not accommodated.
In Italy, €75 per week is payable for those in independent accommodation. Different but lower rates apply for those staying in State provided facilities, subsidised hotels and with families.
In Bulgaria, €180 one time financial assistance is available. Monthly social assistance may be made, subject to provision of voluntary work in some cases.”
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