A Cabinet committee will today consider proposals to reduce welfare supports given to people arriving in Ireland who have fled the war in Ukraine.
RTÉ is reporting that, under measures being tabled by Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman, Ukrainian refugees will in future only receive 90 days accommodation from the State once they arrive. Welfare payments are also expected to be reduced from the current €220 to €38.80 – the amount paid under direct provision.
Government sources are hopeful that the coalition leaders can sign off on the plan tonight, even though Tánaiste Micheál Martin is in Brussels for the EU foreign affairs council and Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan is the joint lead negotiator for the EU at the UN’s climate talks.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics yesterday, Minister of State James Browne said it is “expected” that the issue will be finalised by cabinet this week.
He said the measures were put in place during an emergency, but changes have occurred in the European Union and Ireland needs to move towards a more “medium-term approach”.
Sinn Féin’s Mairead Farrell told the same programme that it was the right time to review the supports but added that care must be taken about the accommodation question.
Read the full report on www.rte.ie
