Decision to reduce supports for Ukrainians likely to be delayed until December
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A controversial decision to reduce accommodation and welfare supports for Ukrainians is now likely to be delayed until at least December.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said changes to the payments provided to those who seek refuge here are "complex" which will require a collective Government decision.
She has been asked to look at the level of payments to Ukrainians after a Cabinet row broke out over the supports that are currently offered.
Proposed changes which would set a 90-day limit on accommodation provided by the State to those fleeing the war in Ukraine have caused a division within Government.
Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has been pushing to make the changes to accommodation due to the massive strain on the system, however, Tánaiste Micheál Martin strongly hit out at the plans claiming they would simply push the problem onto Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien.
Last week the Taoiseach said the Government must take action to “slow down” the number of Ukrainians coming to Ireland — with policy changes likely to be introduced before the end of the year.
Asked about a possible cut to welfare supports, Ms Humphreys said: “It’s a complex area when you look at it, whether it’s payments, whether it’s accommodation, so we have to look at it in the round so we will be bringing forward a recommendation to a Cabinet sub-committee and then it’ll go to Government."
Mr Martin is out of the country next week, so it is likely that any meeting of the sub-committee will be deferred until the following week.
Ms Humphreys added: “It’ll be a collective decision amongst all the departments and across Government.” “I’m the Minister for Social Protection and under the Temporary Protection Directive we as Government made a decision that it would apply to Ukrainians coming to this country and we have to reflect back when they came two years ago, they were fleeing war,” she said.
However, she confirmed that her Department is reviewing supports and "what other options should be available.”