Plans to slash weekly social welfare payments for Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland are set to be considered at a Cabinet committee today.
The plans could see the weekly welfare amount for new arrivals from Ukraine lowered to €38.80 per week, from the €220 per week which is currently given by the State.
The measures, being tabled by Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, would also see state-provided accommodation for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland cut to 90 days.
It follows growing concern over Ireland’s status as an outlier when it comes to the amount of welfare being paid to those from Ukraine compared to a host of other European nations. A parliamentary question from Independent TD Marc MacSharry in October noted the gulf in the scale of welfare provided in Ireland.
Asking Taoiseach Leo Varadkae if he was aware if Ireland was a “complete outlier in the EU and neighbouring countries with the provision of €220 a week for those fleeing Ukraine,” Deputy MacSharry contrasted the rate with other EU nations – as he pointed out that those seeking international protection received a payment of €38.80 per week from the State.
Deputy MacSharry pointed to figures from the European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation, stating, that according to the figures, Ireland provides “more than twice that provided by the next highest country, Finland, at €107, and almost 28 times more than the €7.90 per week provided in Belgium.”
He continued: “Such an anomaly amounts to the effective marketing of Ireland as the preferred location for those fleeing Ukraine,” he said.
“Will the Government adjust our policy to provide an element of balance with other countries, given the inordinate pressures on accommodation in this country?” the Taoiseach was asked.
Responding, Varadkar said: “The benefit of the temporary protection directive gives [people] particular rights under EU law. We are constantly looking at what our offering is for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine versus what is offered in other EU countries.”
The Taoiseach added: “We have to be sensible about these things and we try to align what is done in Ireland with what is done in other European countries” in what was perceived as a hint that change could be on the horizon.
“The Government’s approach has been reckless in the extreme in the face of the worst accommodation crisis since the 1840s even before the outbreak of war,” Deputy MacSharry added.
Figures released by think tank OECD in the same month showed that Ireland had taken in a higher proportion of Ukrainian refugees than other European nations – including Britain, France, Italy and Germany. Out of 36 EU member states, Ireland ranked seventh in terms of refugee intake, the statistics revealed – showing that Ireland had 17 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants.
Ireland, on proportion, took in five times more Ukrainians than the UK, which had a rate of 36 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants.
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.
If the full Cabinet signs off on the plans, legislative changes would be made in the new year. During a conversation on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics on Sunday, Minister of State James Browne said it was “expected” that the issue will be finalised by ministers this week.
While the jobseeker’s allowance for Ukrainians who cannot obtain work could be slashed significantly, under the EU’s temporary protection directive, those from Ukraine would still be able to claim other welfare payments including child benefit.
The issue was raised more recently, during last week’s Private Members motion on Immigration by the Rural Independent grouping. The motion noted how the coast for Ukrainian accommodation alone climbed to €522 million in 2022.
Deputy Carol Nolan described the government’s immigration policy as “reckless,” telling the Dáil: “We can survive being a welcoming nation, but we cannot survive being taken for fools and having our generosity abused for another decade or more. As a public representative, I will certainly continue to ask the questions.
“I will not be silenced and no finger-wagging will deter me from challenging the Government on what is a reckless approach to immigration.”
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, meanwhile, said it was his view that those fleeing war situations, including Ukrainians, should have to “undergo an assessment, just as all the Irish people here have to undergo” when they want to get social welfare.
The Kerry Independent told the debate that he had asked the Taoiseach “a number of days ago” to reduce the rates of social welfare and benefits for those coming to Ireland, but the Taoisearch said “we could not.”
Appealing for “a level playing field,” Deputy Healy-Rae told the house, “I also asked him whether we could have a uniform rate of social welfare across the European Union. He said we could not.
“I cannot see how that is right, because we have to have a level playing field all across Europe. Many more seem to be coming here than elsewhere although Ireland is the farthest from Ukraine, is an island and is harder to get to. Therefore, we need to level the pitch, and the Government needs to argue in Europe that the same rates of social welfare should apply across the board.”
“We must apply a cap, belatedly as it may be, because it is clear that if we are to take care of the people coming here, and certainly take care of our own people, we cannot take any more at present,” he added.