Ireland’s Minister for Migration, Colm Brophy, has confirmed that officials are drafting a voluntary return scheme that would pay Ukrainians between €2,500 and €10,000 to go home, while gradually ending the State-funded accommodation programme that has housed more than 16,000 people since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Speaking to The Times and followed up by Ukrainian news outlet Mezha in the early hours of Monday, 20 April, the Minister said Cabinet would receive detailed costings “within the next twelve months”.
![Government floats €10,000 ‘return package’ as part of wind-down of Ukrainian refugee support]()
VisaHQ’s team of immigration specialists can help Ukrainian nationals and their Irish employers navigate any visa, residency-status or travel documentation changes that may arise from the scheme. Our online platform (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists and expedited processing options, streamlining everything from exit visas to future re-entry permissions.
Under the proposal, adults would receive a one-off grant of about €2,500, rising to a maximum €10,000 for a family of five. Payments would be staggered—half on departure from Ireland and the balance confirmed by Ukrainian authorities once the family is re-registered at its new address. Host families’ allowance, currently €600 per month, would drop to €400 in September 2026 and cease entirely by March 2027. The plan comes as the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) remains in force until March 2027. Ireland is legally obliged to allow Ukrainians to stay, work and access services until that date, but Member States may offer financial assistance for repatriation. Brophy said the scheme would be “entirely voluntary” and stressed that medically vulnerable refugees and those without safe housing in Ukraine would continue to receive support. Employers reliant on Ukrainian workers—especially in construction, hospitality and agri-food—face potential labour gaps if significant numbers opt to leave. HR teams should audit the proportion of their Ukrainian staff on fixed-term contracts and develop retention plans. At the same time, relocation managers will need to clarify whether departing employees will retain occupational pension benefits and how Irish tax authorities will treat the ex-gratia payment. Advocacy groups have expressed concern that cutting host allowances could push refugees into homelessness before repatriation logistics are in place. The Irish Refugee Council is calling for clear eligibility criteria, free legal advice and an appeals mechanism. Consultation on those safeguards is expected to open in May, giving stakeholders a chance to shape a policy that could become a template for other EU countries managing protracted displacement.
VisaHQ’s team of immigration specialists can help Ukrainian nationals and their Irish employers navigate any visa, residency-status or travel documentation changes that may arise from the scheme. Our online platform (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists and expedited processing options, streamlining everything from exit visas to future re-entry permissions.
Under the proposal, adults would receive a one-off grant of about €2,500, rising to a maximum €10,000 for a family of five. Payments would be staggered—half on departure from Ireland and the balance confirmed by Ukrainian authorities once the family is re-registered at its new address. Host families’ allowance, currently €600 per month, would drop to €400 in September 2026 and cease entirely by March 2027. The plan comes as the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) remains in force until March 2027. Ireland is legally obliged to allow Ukrainians to stay, work and access services until that date, but Member States may offer financial assistance for repatriation. Brophy said the scheme would be “entirely voluntary” and stressed that medically vulnerable refugees and those without safe housing in Ukraine would continue to receive support. Employers reliant on Ukrainian workers—especially in construction, hospitality and agri-food—face potential labour gaps if significant numbers opt to leave. HR teams should audit the proportion of their Ukrainian staff on fixed-term contracts and develop retention plans. At the same time, relocation managers will need to clarify whether departing employees will retain occupational pension benefits and how Irish tax authorities will treat the ex-gratia payment. Advocacy groups have expressed concern that cutting host allowances could push refugees into homelessness before repatriation logistics are in place. The Irish Refugee Council is calling for clear eligibility criteria, free legal advice and an appeals mechanism. Consultation on those safeguards is expected to open in May, giving stakeholders a chance to shape a policy that could become a template for other EU countries managing protracted displacement.
