Ireland to Offer Financial Incentives for Ukrainian Refugees to Return Home Voluntarily

Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland will receive payments from the Irish government only once they return to their home country. The Irish government is developing an incentive scheme that will give Ukrainian refugees financial support to encourage voluntary repatriation, according to The Times reported. Ministers previously said the payments to those who returned home would be substantial.

However, Ukrainians will not receive the main financial support until they have permanently moved home. The primary financial support will be given to individuals upon their return home while the support package will aim to help with the cost of reintegration. The state’s returns programme will involve assistance towards the cost of returning to Ukraine such as flights.

A new voluntary returns programme will be set up for a limited and fixed duration when the EU temporary protection directive ends. The proposed EU voluntary return and reintegration programme is expected to be in place by March 2027. The cabinet will shortly be told a scheme to incentivise Ukrainians to return will be contingent on reconstruction work beginning in Ukraine.

Sources who have seen the confidential document said Ukrainians would be offered a route home only under certain safety and security conditions, including the beginning of reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. Reconstruction will be contingent on Ukrainians returning to help rebuild their country.

A cabinet memo will set out the strategy for the return scheme and the ending of key supports for Ukrainians.

An overall transition plan for Ukrainian refugees will be announced at some stage this month. Talks are in progress at EU level on setting up a pilot returns process this year before next year’s voluntary return scheme and Ireland has expressed an interest in taking part in the EU pilot returns scheme.

The EU pilot scheme would involve modest financial supports such as covering the cost of travel.

Close co-ordination with Ukrainian authorities will be crucial when devising the details of the returns scheme so that Ukrainians have the full information on their options, The Times reported. The latest overhaul of the government’s Ukrainian refugees policy comes as President Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia beginning May 8 2026.

The three-day ceasefire announced by President Trump was supported by the Kremlin and Kyiv.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating unilateral ceasefires that were declared in recent days. President Trump said he hoped the three-day ceasefire was the beginning of the end of the conflict. "I’d like to see it stop.

Russia-Ukraine — it’s the worst thing since World War Two in terms of life. Twenty-five thousand young soldiers every month. It’s crazy," Trump said. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began four years ago.

In July 2026 the government will open an application process for people to self-declare their need for alternative state accommodation in designated centres. Ukrainians who signalled that they needed alternative accommodation will be relocated to designated state centres in August 2026. In August 2026 the phased process of ending commercial contracts will begin and will run up until March 2027.

An application process will be opened in September 2026 for a bespoke alternative permission scheme that could allow some Ukrainians to remain in Ireland after March 2027. In October 2026 the accommodation recognition payment scheme will be reduced from €600 to €400 monthly.