The ARP program, created in Ireland specifically for Ukrainian refugees, brought housing to the market that had never been offered there before. But this measure did not solve the housing crisis: people started using the program to earn money by registering apartments in the program that they themselves rented.
Where the Housing for the Program Came From
When the ARP program first started in 2022–2023, people were mainly renting what had never been offered on the commercial market: individual rooms and guest houses. This was housing that simply did not exist on Ireland’s real estate and rental market. The state provided refugees with access to resources that would otherwise have remained unused.
Why Ukrainians Didn’t Take Others’ Housing
The ARP program is available exclusively to Ukrainians, so they did not compete with local residents, refugees, and migrants for regular rental housing. Ukrainians did not take a single apartment that was listed on the open market and intended for someone else. It was a separate program with a separate pool of housing.
Housing in the ARP Program: Where It Came From
| Period | Source of Housing | Who Provided It | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | Private individuals | ||
| 2024 | People renting apartments themselves | ||
| Total | The program operated separately |
When Landlords Started Profiting
Landlords quickly realized that income received through the ARP program was not counted when checking eligibility for state benefits. This made the program attractive: people began registering housing in ARP even though they themselves rented it. This resulted in secondary rental on a legal basis.
Closing the RTB Loophole
When landlords began withdrawing housing from the RTB register—a special organization for registering rental properties—and converting it to the ARP program, the government noticed the scheme. Authorities closed this loophole, after which participation in the program increased significantly, especially in 2024. Many Irish people legally profited from the program.
Did Not Solve the Housing Crisis
Despite the influx of housing through ARP, the rental market remained in deficit. The program did not significantly affect the overall housing situation because it replenished supply parallel to the main market, not at its expense. Ukrainians and Irish people using the program worked with a separate market segment.
Future Investigations
Following the cancellation of the ARP program, which has been announced on the official website, various investigations are expected. In Ireland, such checks proceed slowly, over years, but typically result in exposing schemes and fraud. It is expected that cases of collusion between Ukrainians and Irish people who misused the program will be revealed.
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