Ukraine welfare payment legislation to go to Cabinet

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will this morning bring legislation to Cabinet to give effect to the Government decision taken before Christmas to reduce welfare payments for new arrivals from Ukraine.

It is expected that the legislation will be moved in the Dáil next week and it is likely to be passed by the Oireachtas before the end of the month.

Ukrainians arriving here in the coming weeks will receive an expense allowance of €38.80 a week which is down from the current jobseeker’s rate of €232 per week.

The legislation will also mean that those receiving the new weekly payment will be required to engage with the Department of Social Protection’s Public Employment Service.

There they will receive training and skills support to help them into employment.

Under the changes, those arriving here from Ukraine will only get a place in State accommodation for 90 days.

A long-term plan around asylum accommodation is currently being drafted and it is expected to go to Cabinet in the coming weeks.

Among the options under consideration is a proposal that those in public accommodation over a long period could be asked to make a contribution towards the cost.

Almost 104,000 people from Ukraine have come to Ireland since the outbreak of the war with Russia.

Reduction in patients awaiting healthcare

Separately, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will bring a memo to Government outlining an 11% reduction in the number of patients waiting longer than ten to 12 weeks for medical care last year.

It means 57,000 less people were waiting longer than the agreed Sláintecare targets than at the end of 2022.

The minister will tell colleagues that the target of removing approximately 1.66 million patients from waiting lists in 2023 was exceeded by 5%, with around 1.74 million patients removed.