State accommodation for Ukrainian refugees set to be cut from 90 days to 30

By Bairbre Holmes, PA

Ministers and officials have agreed to cut the length of time Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland can stay in State accommodation from 90 days to 30.

A cabinet sub-committee agreed to the measure, proposed by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, on Monday evening.

Last month, the Public Accounts Committee was told there has been a “surge” in the number of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland in recent weeks, which has put additional strain on the system.

This has been attributed to a change in a law in Ukraine which has eased travel restrictions for men aged 18 to 22.

On Monday, Mr O’Callaghan told RTÉ: “If the numbers keep arriving like we saw in September and October, we will have to start looking for more accommodation.”

The Public Accounts Committee also heard around a billion euros was spent on accommodation for Ukrainians in 2024.

Oonagh McPhillips, the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, told the committee there is “roughly €700 million provided for Ukraine in this year and that is €170 million less next year”.

Since the invasion of Russia in February 2022 a EU law known as a Temporary Protection Directive has been active, under which those fleeing the conflict are eligible to work in Ireland and access social supports.

From March 2024, Ukrainians registering for State-provided accommodation have been housed for 90 days, but that is now set to be reduced.

More than 114,000 people have come to Ireland from Ukraine seeking Temporary Protection and an estimated 80,000 have stayed.

On Sunday, Labour’s housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan criticised the proposed plan saying: “To suggest that Ukrainian refugees could be expected to find alternative accommodation within just 30 days is simply not realistic.”

Mr Sheehan added: “The war in Ukraine is still very much a live issue.

“Reducing the accommodation period in this way would not solve the underlying problem — it would merely shift it elsewhere, with a very real risk of an increase in rough sleeping.”