More than 200 Laois properties receiving payment for housing Ukrainian refugees

There are more than 200 properties in Laois that are receiving the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) for housing Ukrainian refugees, according to figures from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Laois has one of the lowest numbers of properties claiming payments at 219, ahead of Kilkenny

(214), Monaghan (171) and Roscommon (72) with the lowest. 

The figures were released following a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin.

Responding to the question Minister Roderic O'Gorman said: "The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. The payment rate under this scheme is €800 per month per property with a unique Eircode, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or shared."

As of June 23, 2024, there were over 13,800 active claims in payments nationally. 

According to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office as of June 4 the highest number of Ukrainian refugees were being housed in the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Local Electoral Area (LEA) at 603. There were 500 Ukrainian arrivals registered in the Portlaoise Local Electoral Area and 454 in the Borris-Mountmellick LEA. 

These figures are based on the local post office address as per the process through which arrivals were seeking assistance from the Department of Social Protection or, if available, the arrivals' residential address where an Accommodation Recognition Payment is payable to the host of the residence.