Schools grapple with the likely fallout as summer approaches and families may be on the move. 

The government’s recent decision, to reduce the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) from €800 to €600 monthly sparked significant concern across Irish communities. The first reduced payment will be received by hosts on 8 July 2025. This cut to crucial financial support for host families could spark a wave of disruption for all involved: Ukrainian refugees, host families, schools and community groups. 

The ARP scheme was extended to March 2026 in line with the agreed extension of the EU Temporary Protection Directive for people displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Many host families rely on the ARP to cover the increasing utility and food costs associated with accommodation for refugees. 

Peadar Ó Fearghail hosts a family in Sligo. He said: “We made a decision to host a Ukrainian family in the very early days after the invasion by Russia. The appeal was made by the Red Cross, and our decision was made solely on humanitarian grounds. 

“The ARP decision was made some months later and we availed of the financial support as there are additional costs involved in hosting a family. It would be very difficult for the family if they were uprooted at this time and had to face finding accommodation elsewhere.” 

Kateryna Kukosh and her family came from Ukraine in May 2022. She said: “I believe that the reduction of payments to the landlords will lead to a decrease in ARP proposals. I consider the 800 euros under the program to be uncompetitive in relation to the real prices for rental housing. With a reduction to €600, this generally becomes unprofitable for the landlord, even though some landlords act purely for altruistic motives, and the government does a lot for Ukrainian resettled families.” 

If families need to relocate, it will increase the challenges for schools to monitor and plan for transient enrolment. 

Mr Ó Fearghail said that the children his family hosts “love school, are popular in the community as they are involved in St Mary’s GAA Club and also play with Merville soccer club”. 

Mr Anthony Gallagher, principal of a large urban school in the area is currently organising complicated class allocations for September. 

“We currently have 32 different nationalities. Our mission is to celebrate diversity and provide a warm welcome to all. It takes time for our students from other cultures to find their feet, to deal with the language barrier and embrace new ways of living and learning. 

“Tailored education plans are put in place for our new students. If they leave us mid-year, it causes disruption for them and indeed for their classmates and teachers, who miss them.” 

Mr Gallagher also outlined “the practical issues of the knock-on impact on class numbers and teacher allocation, the sharing of transferral information with TUSLA and other admin practicalities”. 

A representative from REALT (Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim Regional Education and Language Team) said: “Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim has shown great leadership in its efforts to integrate students from Ukraine. REALT has been successful in finding school places for Ukrainian children.” 

During a Dáil debate in February, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, said: “I do not believe that Ukrainians should be treated in an unfavourable manner. If they are part of the local schools and have been in a given location for quite some time.”  

The reduction of the ARP has also triggered concerns for the rental market. Property owners and landlords anticipate further demand for rental accommodation in a market already stretched to meet needs. The Irish Property Owners’ Association (IPOA) has recently highlighted significant challenges facing the rental sector as part of the findings of the latest Daft.ie Rental Price Report for Q4, 2024.  

In the report, Mary Conway, Chairperson of the IPOA, said: “There is no doubt that the rental market is in a crisis and current policies are driving landlords out of the sector. Excessive regulation and financial pressures are making it increasingly unviable to provide rental accommodation, reinforcing the IPOA’s calls for the Government to immediately address supply shortages.” 

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, led by Minister Norma Foley, issued a Press Release on the Intention to extend the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme on 25 March 2025. 

According to the statement: “The number of people who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who are receiving accommodation as a result of the Accommodation Recognition Payment has increased from 8,539 at the end of 2022 to 37,500 now. 

“The reduced monthly payment is intended to facilitate an orderly wind down of the scheme before the end of TPD; manage the expectations of all stakeholders (pledgers, BOTPs and NGOs); and address concerns about the potential impact of ARP on supply in the rental market.” 

The CSO Arrivals from Ukraine Series 15, Table 5 indicates: “As of 02 February 2025, 36,532 arrivals from Ukraine were living in private accommodations, where 15,915 hosts were in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) for accommodating people from Ukraine.” 

As government agencies navigate the evolving complexity to support Ukrainian refugees, communities highlight the need for well-planned support, ensuring that these families have stability to support their recovery and integration into Irish communities and schools.