2247. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, in light of the particular circumstances of elderly beneficiaries of temporary protection, TP, who remain dependent on State-supported accommodation and who have limited or no capacity to supplement their income through employment, he will seek a review of the categories exempted from the revised weekly payment of €38.80, with a view to including persons of pensionable age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60901/26]

2249. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has engaged with the Minister for Social Protection regarding the application of the revised weekly payment of €38.80 to beneficiaries of TP who continue to reside in designated State-supported accommodation; whether consideration has been given to exempting persons of pensionable age or older persons who cannot reasonably be expected to enter employment from the reduced payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60898/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2247 and 2249 together.

The BOTP weekly payment was introduced, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection, for residents in Full Board Designated Accommodation Centres (DACs) in September 2024. Residents in Full Board DACs have all costs related to food and utilities covered by the State and the rate reflects that. This change was made to bring equivalence, as far as possible, between Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who had arrived in Ireland before and after the introduction of the Timebound Accommodation Policy on 14 March 2024.

The payment is subject to an income test and the rate is €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child, with an additional supplement of €70 per adult and €35 per child weekly to defray the cost of the mandatory contribution towards food in serviced accommodation.

Following Government Decision in May 2026, a phased wind-down of state contracted commercial accommodation has commenced. My Department recognises that some residents will require ongoing accommodation support. Where a person feels they cannot source independent accommodation, they can apply to the Department for ongoing accommodation. Such applications require information on a person’s circumstances and supporting evidence.

It is important to note that all State contracted commercial accommodation will cease in the coming months. Therefore, the window for applications applies to everyone currently in State accommodation who has a need for ongoing accommodation.

Where a person’s application is successful, ongoing accommodation support will be provided in DACs and residents will be entitled to the BOTP weekly payment. These benefits are being maintained for successful applicants, including elderly people.

No further review of these rates is being carried out at this time.

More information regarding ongoing accommodation support can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/ongoing-supports-en/.

Persons who leave state accommodation may apply for standard social welfare payments on the same basis as Irish Citizens.