Statement by Ukraine Civil Society Forum on changes to state provision to Ukranians
Statement by the Ukraine Civil Society Forum
In the name of equality, fairness and sustainability we should not consign 13,000 children to poverty.
The Government this week decided that beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-provided serviced accommodation should receive the same level of payment regardless of when they arrived. This is to be implemented by mid-August.
This extends the reach of the new legislation that was agreed end of February by the Oireachtas to offer people newly arrived from Ukraine time limited access to (90 days) accommodation and €38.80/week allowance for the period of their stay in specially designated centres. This is now extended to all in state serviced accommodation. Child Benefit is provided.
Everyone in serviced accommodation currently pays €70/per week for food, €35/week per child in addition to laundry and other services.
There are currently 47,800 people (adults and children) are in state contracted accommodation. The Government states that this new policy impacts on 27,500. This figure relates to the direct recipients of welfare, excluding their dependents. Other exceptions are still to be clarified.
At this point in time the details of implementation and ramifications are unknown and we will liaise closely with the Department of Social Protection and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to get the facts out to you as soon as possible.
Points for urgent clarification
- The Ukrainian people targeted in this policy currently pay their accommodation provider €70/week per adult and €35/week per child for food. How will they pay this on €38.80 a week or
- Does this change now mean the Government will need to renegotiate c.900 contracts over the next three months paying accommodation providers more to cover food costs?
- Does this policy include people on old-age pensions, disability benefit and one parent family allowance?
- What about those in third level currently or those about to start college in September. Will they lose the back-to-education allowance and have to dropout?
As a Forum of 106 organisations across Ireland, who respond and support refugees every day. The lack of information on how this policy change will be implemented makes our jobs immeasurably more difficult and creates a vacuum that misinformation will thrive and anxiety and stress within this community will be greater.
Having made this policy decision we urge that the Government review the adequacy of the payment, this rate is a poverty payment not having changed since 2019. A single mother with one child is 2 worse off by €58.80 per week. The Government has a commitment to reduce child poverty. In the name of equality, fairness and sustainability we should not consign 13,000 children to poverty.
We urge all who engage with Ukrainians and other refugees to encourage them to register to vote. The registration deadline is midnight 20th May. At times like these it’s important to ensure you have a voice. Every vote matters.
https://www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/request-splash
Case Study
Olga and her 3 year old daughter Sasha fled Karkhiv (Ukraine’s second city, our Cork) in March 2022 and came to Ennis County Clare.
Olga and Sasha share a bed in a local hotel and pay the hotel €105/week for food. She currently has €127/week left over for them both.
Olga uses this money to buy fresh, healthy food for her toddler, to pay for a couple of hours of childcare so she can attend English classes, her bus fare, phone credit and toiletries.
Her home in Karkhiv, is under Russian attack right now.
Come September she won’t have enough to pay the mandatory contribution to the accommodation provider.
Is Ireland telling Olga and Sasha they have to go back?