A cash bonanza for families that open up their homes to Ukrainian war refugees is being actively weighed up by the Government.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed that a payment scheme to compensate Irish households that host people fleeing the war zone is on the table.
It is thought we are about to reach breaking point with the number of refugees arriving here expected to pass the 30,000 mark by next weekend.
“Nothing is ruled out,” the Taoiseach said on a state visit to Finland yesterday.
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If we were to follow the UK example, where the nominal hosting payments will be £350 a month, that could see payments here in the region of €400 a month – or €100 a week.
Last week the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) called on the Government to give holiday home owners €300 to €400 per month to allow their properties to be used by Ukrainian refugees.
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Over 20,000 people have already signed-up to an Irish Red Cross pledge appeal offering their private accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.
The Government has also secured almost 10,000 hotel beds to provide sanctuary for the war refugees.
Mr Martin was asked about the payment for hosts issue in Helsinki on Friday.
He said: “Well, nothing has been ruled out in that regard.
“I think in the first instance, what I would like to see is to go through the existing pledges that have been made.
“I think we have to put more resources behind that exercise and then take it from there.
“Certainly, we will look at all possibilities around that, particularly in terms of freeing up existing capacity within the existing housing stock.”
The Taoiseach added: “We have to take the full implications of such an initiative, because there are potential dangers on that front as well.
“We’ve taken advice from the Department of Children in particular and notwithstanding the uniqueness insofar as the sheer volume of refugees that have come into the country, we have to be very careful that everything we do is with a view to protecting all refugees who come in.
“Initially this was not a monetary issue, but I do understand that that is a fair point that Deputy Fitzpatrick raised in the Dáil in terms of people coming under increasing costs arising from that, because of the protective measures, the directive from the European Union, we provide social supports and income to refugees.
“That said, we will consider all of those issues, but in the immediate term, the focus will be on getting through all of those pledges and having an assessment then in terms of what is available and what is not available.”
Independent TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, first raised the issue during Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday afternoon.
He said: “The commercial hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation are being paid to house Ukrainian refugees.
“The people who opened their homes to the same refugees are not getting any support.
“This is wrong and must be addressed.
“It is wrong that these people are left isolated without any support or assistance.
“They were good enough to open their homes at a time of great need, but now they feel ignored.”
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