Ireland to reduce welfare payments to Ukrainian refugees

euronews (in English)

The Irish government said its proposed reduction in welfare payments brought the country into line with most EU states, while its opponents believe it will create further poverty, especially affecting children.

Transcript

00:00Ireland is to significantly reduce welfare payments for refugees from Ukraine.

00:05From September 1st next, weekly state payments to refugees will be reduced from €232 per week to just over €38 per week.

00:15The decision has been criticised by left-wing parties in Ireland who say it will lead to an increase in child poverty

00:21and ultimately amounts to being a political distraction from other domestic problems.

00:27The immediate implication will be a dramatic rise in child poverty in this country.

00:32We know that the vast majority of Ukrainian refugees who are here are women and their children.

00:38So it's really quite a disgusting move, quite a cynical move by the government.

00:44Allowances for children will be paid at €29.80 per week.

00:49The payments will affect 19,000 refugees even though close on 80,000 Ukrainians have moved to Ireland

00:55since the start of the war with Russia in February 2022.

00:59The reduction in payments will see Ireland come close to what is being paid in France

01:04where accommodated refugees receive €47.60 per week.

01:08Unaccommodated refugees receive €99.40 per week.

01:13In Germany, the citizens' income is fixed at €563 per month

01:18while the payment for children stands at €471 per month or just under €120 per week.

01:25The Irish government says its proposed reduction in welfare payments brings the country into line with most EU states.

01:32It's a move to do two things, to put us on the same footing as our European counterparts around the Union

01:39but also to make sure that Ukrainian temporary protection recipients here are all on the same footing

01:44so it doesn't depend on when you arrived in Ireland, everybody will get the same.

01:48The changes are likely to discourage many refugees from considering a move to Ireland

01:52as a shortage in housing in the Irish economy continues to be a difficult problem for the government to solve.

01:59This decision by the Irish government to reduce weekly welfare payments to refugees from Ukraine

02:05from over €200 per week to just over €38 per week appears to be sending out a strong message.

02:12It is that where there was once a very warm Irish welcome for refugees from Ukraine

02:17that welcome is now starting to go cold.

02:20This is Ken Murray for Euronews at the Department of Integration in Dublin.

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