Ukrainian refugees to have welfare and housing cut

Ukrainian refugees to have welfare and housing cut

Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland from early next year will receive drastically less in social welfare payments and have reduced access to State accommodation, the government has announced.

The changes, which will not affect those currently in State accommodation, will bring Ireland’s treatment of Ukrainian refugees in line with that of other European countries, ministers said.

New arrivals from Ukraine will receive State accommodation for a maximum of 90 days, during which they will receive a weekly payment of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child — a cut of more than 80 per cent.

When refugees leave State accommodation, they will become eligible to receive the full €220 per week rate.

The government has indicated that it will launch an international advertising campaign to highlight the changes to Ukrainians who are thinking of coming to Ireland.

More than 101,200 refugees have arrived in the State from Ukraine, of whom 74,500 are currently living in State accommodation and 57,000 in fully serviced accommodation. Around 16,000 are currently in employment.

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