Plans for payment for hosting refugees set to go to Cabinet as early as next week

Plans to offer financial support to households hosting refugees from Ukraine could be brought to Government as early as next week.

A sum of €400-per-month is being discussed to help with increased costs like home heating.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said she expects a memo to be brought to Government "very shortly".

The Irish Times understands this could be as soon as next Tuesday.

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She said officials are examining whether the sums on offer should vary depending on how many refugees a person is hosting.

However, Ms Humphreys also said her view is to “keep it simple. That’s the best way to administer any system that we might do.”

She was speaking in North Dublin at the first in-person jobs fair to be held since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

With 50 employers taking part more than 1,000 people were expected to attend - including some Ukrainian refugees seeking work.

Among employers present at the Intreo recruitment fair were eBay, Dublin Bus, ESB, Defence Forces, Accenture, Butlers Chocolates, Dublin Airport operators DAA and Ryanair.

Ukrainian refugees

Ms Humphreys said she was delighted to meet some Ukrainian refugees at the event.

“One was a university lecturer, one was a doctor, and another was a health care manager. Their children are in school here. They’re very happy to be here and now they want to look for a job. We want to help them and that’s what social protection is about.”

Ms Humphreys said around 14,000 Ukrainian refugees of working age have come to Ireland so far out of a total number of more than 27,000 arrivals.

The refugees are issued with PPS numbers and are initially placed on the Supplementary Welfare Allowance of up to €206 per week before being moved to the social protection payments most suited to their circumstances.

Refugees can avail of the supports on offer under the Government’s Pathways to Work programme.

Ms Humphreys said the overall number of people on the Live Register has now fallen below 180,000 - a smaller number than were on the register before the pandemic. She said this shows the Government strategy is delivering.