Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Minister Jim O’Callaghan has confirmed his intention to seek an extension of the accommodation recognition payment for those hosting Ukrainian refugees for a further year.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a tax-free financial contribution provided to individuals who host refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine that was introduced in 2022.
The payment is currently set at €600 per month per property with a unique Eircode, regardless of the number of people being hosted. This rate was reduced from €800 in June 2025 to manage the scheme’s sustainability.
In a written response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy on Thursday, the Fianna Fáil Minister said he plans to extend the scheme until March 31st 2027.
Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy, who is a TD for Cavan-Monaghan, had asked the Minister for an update on whether the payments would be extended beyond the current deadline of March 31st 2026.
O’Callaghan said the extension was intended to align with the timeframe for the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive regarding the war in Ukraine.
“It is my intention to seek Oireachtas approval to extend the scheme for a further year to March 31st 2027 to align with the timeframe for the Temporary Protection Directive,” O’Callaghan said.
“[This] will allow for an orderly wind-down of the scheme in advance of the end of the application of that EU Directive to the war in Ukraine.”
The Minister described the scheme as having been successful in accommodating almost 63,500 temporary protection beneficiaries outside of State-contracted accommodation since its commencement in 2022.
“The scheme has been successful in accommodating almost 63,500 temporary protection beneficiaries,” he said.
“Some 42,000 people are currently living in almost 23,500 hosted accommodations with the support of the scheme.”
O’Callaghan noted that the payment was introduced to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to those fleeing the conflict.
“The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes,” he said.
“The scheme is provided for in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf.”
The Minister confirmed that he has already commenced consultations with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure regarding the proposed change.
“I can confirm that I have commenced those consultations,” O’Callaghan said.
“I intend to complete the required statutory processes before the current scheme termination date of March 31st.”
The Department of Social Protection manages the scheme for the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, with payments issued in arrears on the second Tuesday of each month. This financial support is not subject to a means test and is exempt from income tax.
To qualify, you must provide housing to those under temporary protection for a minimum period of six months.
The ARP is a flat rate paid per property rather than for every individual guest. While the payment is not designed to replace rent or cover a host’s extra expenses, official government advice states that hosts and guests can agree on contributions toward utility bills.