DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland is considering limiting the length of time Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country can stay in state housing to three months before they must find their own accommodation, the Irish Examiner reported on Monday, citing a government source.
Nearly 100,000 Ukrainians have fled to Ireland since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, which the government says equates to 1.6% of Ukrainian refugees in Europe. By September, there were around 72,000 in state-provided accommodation.
There are currently no limits on how long Ukrainian refugees can stay there, but the system has been stretched for months amid a wider housing shortage, with arrivals at times having to stay in makeshift facilities such as sports halls or even in tents.
The change being considered would apply to new arrivals who would have to find private rental accommodation or move into a property pledged for use by homeowners after three months, the Irish Examiner reported.
A spokesperson for the department of integration said the government was keeping its approach under review, taking account of the need to shift towards a more sustainable medium-term approach similar to that adopted elsewhere around the European Union.
No decision has been taken on a change to the current policy, the spokesperson said.
The finance ministry estimates that the cost of providing housing and benefits for Ukrainian refugees will rise to 2.5 billion euros ($2.65 billion) in 2024, equivalent to almost half of the added spending allocated across all departments next year.
A years-long mismatch in the supply and demand of rental properties in Ireland at a time when the economy and population have grown rapidly has led to record levels of homelessness and record high rents.
Ireland’s main property listings website Daft.ie showed just 1,794 properties available to rent for a population of 5.3 million people on Monday.
Almost 17,000 Ukrainian refugees are already living in rooms or properties pledged by homeowners, who receive a grant from the state.
($1 = 0.9442 euros)
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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