Concern has been voiced about the impact of a Government scheme for housing refugees from Ukraine on the private rental sector, as new figures show the number of private properties being used has increased by 17 per cent since the start of the year.

A record number of over 21,800 dwellings are currently being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees under the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme, according to the latest figures from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

It represents an increase of over 3,100 additional properties being involved in the ARP scheme since January.

Owners or tenants of such properties were entitled to claim a monthly payment of €800 for housing Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive but the sum has been reduced to €600 per month since June 1.

A total of 21,803 properties are now being used as part of the ARP scheme to provide homes to almost 39,600 Ukrainian refugees with 16,900 hosts in receipt of monthly payments.

The figures show that over €339 million has been paid to date to 26,100 recipients for hosting 56,700 temporary protection beneficiaries since the scheme was launched in July 2022.

The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin’s justice, home affairs and migration spokesperson, Matt Carthy.

Not surprisingly, the largest number of properties involved in the scheme are located in Dublin with almost 3,300 currently housing refugees from Ukraine.

The second highest number is in Donegal where 2,070 private properties are in use followed by Cork (1,611) Mayo (1,425) and Kerry (1,308).

The smallest number is 128 in Roscommon.

The figures indicate that approximately 1 per cent of the Republic’s 2.1 million housing stock is being used to house Ukrainian refugees with varying differences across the country.

The proportion ranges from an estimated 2.4 per cent of all dwellings in Donegal to just 0.4 per cent of all homes in Roscommon.

Other counties with a high proportion of their housing stock being used to accommodate refugees from Ukraine are Leitrim (2.2 per cent), Mayo (2.1 per cent) and Carlow and Longford (both 2.0 per cent).

Less than 1 per cent of residences in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Kilkenny, and Wicklow are involved in the scheme.

The number of properties being used to house Ukrainian refugees has risen by at least 10 per cent since the start of the year in all counties with the exception of Kildare and Kilkenny where the increases were at a slower rate.

Mr Carthy said Sinn Féin has never received a satisfactory answer from the Minister of Justice about the impact of the ARP on the private rental sector.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD has sharply criticised how the EU Temporary Protection Directive has been operated in Ireland and claimed the ARP is “deeply unfair and caused huge divisions within communities.”

“It gave Ukrainians access to housing supports without a means test that was available to no other person including those on lower wages trying to secure housing,” said Mr Carthy.

He claimed the measure was also driving up rents particularly in parts of the country that traditionally had lower rents.

Mr Carthy said the numbers in some areas like Donegal were huge with over 2,000 properties being used for the ARP.

He added: “These figures also show that there are significantly more properties than property owners coming under the scheme. There are 21,803 properties being provided by 16,900 owners which clearly means that a significant number of people have more than one property under this scheme.

“It indicates that landlords are availing of this scheme because it financially benefits them while avoiding the normal obligations and responsibilities regarding tenancies,” said Mr Carthy.

Asked by the Sinn Féin TD about the impact of the ARP scheme on the private rented sector , the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, said his department was awaiting the outcome of an analysis being carried out by the Department of Housing in conjunction with the Residential Tenancies Board.

“There is ongoing engagement by my department with the Department of Housing in respect of the scheme,” said Mr O’Callaghan.

Property owners or tenants were originally paid a rate of €400 per month when the scheme was introduced before it was increased to €800 per month in December 2022 and lowered to €600 last month.

Accommodation must be provided for at least six months and meet the required standards in relation to structural condition, fire safety, ventilation and various facilities.

The ARP scheme has been extended to March 31st, 2026, in line with the extension of the EU Temporary Protection Directive

Separate figures provided by Mr O’Callaghan earlier this month show that the State had contracts with 670 different commercial properties including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation at the start of July to provide temporary accommodation to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine in addition to the ARP scheme.