The Irish government has agreed to reduce the length of stay for newly arrived Ukrainians in state housing from 90 to 30 days, according to national broadcaster RTE.
“Previously, people who fled the war in Ukraine could stay in such housing for up to 90 days. According to the government, if the current trend continues – with about 50 people a day needing 90-day accommodation – all available places could be exhausted as early as this month,” the report said.
In addition, the subcommittee agreed to introduce weekly financial contributions for accommodation in state housing for working asylum seekers. According to Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, the mechanism will be developed jointly with Minister of State Colm Brophy and presented to the governing parties in the coming weeks before being submitted to the Cabinet for final approval.
The minister said the fee for residents of IPAS (Interdepartmental Provision of Asylum Services) centers could range from €15 to €238 per week, depending on income.
“Ultimately, it will be a government decision, but we are recommending these proposals and believe they are appropriate,” he said.
O’Callaghan also acknowledged that the number of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland has increased significantly since September, noting that more than 100,000 Ukrainians have arrived since 2022, with about 80,000 currently in the country.
