The amount of money being spent on accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland has almost halved since 2024, an Oireachtas committee will hear later today.
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration secretary general Oonagh McPhillips will outline the situation to the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC), saying the figure has reduced from €1.165bn two years ago to an allocated €607m this year.
In her opening statement, Ms McPhillips will say that the drop off in the accommodation spend is largely due to a fall in the number of people who have fled the war in Ukraine remaining in Ireland.
The committee will hear the cost has dropped from €1.165bn in 2024 to €719m in 2025 to an expected €607m this year - saying much of the reduction is due to contract terminations, rate cuts and other factors.
Ms McPhillips is expected to tell the PAC that out of 126,000 people who have come to Ireland since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine four years ago, more than 80,000 continue to live here.
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration secretary general will tell the committee the help from Ireland has, and continues to be, one of the most significant ever supplied from the country.
She is expected to add that while an EU temporary protection system remains in place until 2027, her department is examining a phased ending of this system, in line with EU Council recommendations and in conjunction with other member states.
