Ireland to cut ARP payment to €400 and launch new scheme for Ukrainians

What has changed

Ireland's government has approved a package of changes for Ukrainians staying in the country under temporary protection. The main changes affect the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) for hosts and the launch of a new scheme for a longer-term legal status.

The changes were approved by the Irish Cabinet on 26 May 2026. According to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the goal is an orderly wind-down of temporary supports before the EU Temporary Protection Directive expires, while giving people who want to stay in Ireland a clear route to legal status.

Who is affected

The ARP cut affects around 42,000 current recipients — Irish residents and others who host Ukrainians with temporary protection, usually for free or a token rent. From October 2026 the payment will be €400 a month instead of €600 (because payments are made in arrears, the first payment at the new rate will actually be paid in October).

The RTB registration restriction applies to new applications only: if a property has ever been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board as a rental since 4 March 2022, a new ARP application for it will no longer be accepted. This also means tenants hosting Ukrainians in their own rented accommodation can no longer submit new applications.

The reduction in state-contracted commercial accommodation (hotels and similar facilities) will affect a large share of the roughly 16,000 Ukrainians currently living there. The government plans to treat about 5,000 of them as vulnerable and let them remain; the rest will need to find their own accommodation by March 2027.

The new Temporary Protection Transition Scheme is for Ukrainians who have lived in Ireland for at least a year under temporary protection and want to remain after the EU directive ends. To apply, a person must have been employed or self-employed for at least 6 months with an annual salary of at least €29,432, must not live in state-provided accommodation, and must not live in accommodation for which the host receives ARP. The permission is Stamp 4, issued in renewable two-year blocks; time on this permission counts toward the five-year residence requirement for naturalisation. It covers the whole family unit that has been resident in Ireland under temporary protection.

What to do now

1. If you receive ARP: check that your payment will automatically drop to €400 in October 2026 and adjust your household budget in advance.
2. If you plan to apply for ARP for the first time: check with the Residential Tenancies Board whether the property has ever been registered as a rental since 4 March 2022 — this affects eligibility.
3. If you live in state-contracted commercial accommodation: contact your case manager or the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to find out whether you fall into the group allowed to stay, and what housing alternatives exist before March 2027.
4. If you are considering staying in Ireland long-term: check whether you meet the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme criteria (employment length, income, housing type) and watch gov.ie for the official opening of applications.
5. Do not rely on rumours about a payment of up to €10,000 for voluntary return — as of mid-2026 this is only a proposal under discussion, not an active programme.

Common mistakes

• Confusing the timing of the ARP rate cut: it takes effect from October 2026, not immediately after the May announcement.
• Assuming the RTB registration restriction affects existing payments — it only applies to new applications.
• Thinking the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme automatically extends temporary protection — it is a separate permission (Stamp 4) with its own income, employment and housing requirements.
• Treating the proposed €10,000 return payment as an already approved and available programme — it is currently only a proposal under discussion, contingent on EU-level decisions.

Rules change often — before you act, always check the current requirements on the official government source linked above.