ARP in Ireland: What Has Really Changed and What to Expect

The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) program, a state initiative launched in 2022 to support individuals providing accommodation to Ukrainians, has been extended until March 31, 2027. The decision to extend was made by the Irish government in March 2026 and agreed upon at the government and Oireachtas level. The extension is tied to the expiration date of temporary protection in the EU. Currently, the payment rate remains at 600 euros per month for accommodation, and it is not taxed or taken into account when providing social assistance.

At the same time, the government emphasizes that the extension of the program is part of its gradual termination. Although the current ARP rate is 600 euros per month, the government has publicly stated its intention to reduce it to 400 euros. This is seen as part of a gradual winding down of the program, but the final decision to change the rate requires separate approval.

New restrictions have been introduced since March 3, 2026: new applications for ARP are not accepted for housing registered with the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board), and tenants can no longer submit new applications. Thus, although the scheme has been extended, access to it is significantly limited. The official position of the government is a controlled gradual winding down of the program, rather than its abrupt closure. Speeches in the Dáil refer to "phasing-out" and the intention to completely terminate the scheme over time.

So, ARP has been extended until 2027, but the conditions are not guaranteed to remain unchanged. There is a possibility of reducing the payment from 600 to 400 euros, the rules are already becoming stricter, and the scheme is moving towards completion. ARP has not been canceled, but it is no longer a stable long-term support, but a program that will be gradually phased out.