Ireland has sent 4,000 blood donation bags and 50,000 medical masks to Ukraine, as part of an effort to support the health service of the war-torn country.
The Government, working with the HSE, has donated thousands of items designed to help Ukrainian medics, as part of an EU-wide effort.
4,000 blood bags were donated by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and sent to Ukraine on Monday from a supplier in Poland, while 10,000 bio-protection suits, as well as 50,000 medical-grade masks and more than 2,500 litres of disinfectant, were dispatched today.
The Department of Health confirmed that, alongside the HSE, staff are planning further donations to Ukraine and neighbouring countries as the Russian invasion shows no sign of ending.
The invasion has caused the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly stressed how vital these kinds of donations were.
"The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is devastating. I had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Gerasko earlier this week and am keenly aware of how important these donations are to supporting the Ukrainian response to ongoing conflict," he said.
"The HSE is coordinating a large number of offers of medicines and medical assistance we can provide, and I look forward to confirming further support shortly."
Meanwhile, The Minister for Education has said the capacity of schools in various parts of Ireland will be considered when accommodating young Ukrainians who have fled conflict.
Norma Foley said a database showing where in the country there is school capacity has been shared between her department and the Department of Children.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Foley added that the "ideal scenario" would be that the families and children are directed to areas where there is capacity.
"We very clear as to where there is particular capacity in our schools in different places or locations around the country," she said.
Ms Foley said her department is also addressing the language barrier for Ukrainian pupils, with a commitment to strengthening its current language programmes.
The Teaching Council will be expediting registration process for Ukrainian teachers coming to Ireland, she said.
"We know that language is probably the greatest barrier for students," Ms Foley said.
"We have a very significant English as an additional language program operating in our schools. We could augment that and add to it.
"We have a department headline for school principals and school leaders and additional staff being placed there specifically to address issues in terms of support for Ukrainian students."
She said both children who arrive and children in Irish schools will be assisted in "coping with war".
School transport fees will be waived for students who need to avail of school transports, after arriving from Ukraine.
Ms Foley said her department is also addressing the language barrier for Ukrainian pupils, with a commitment to strengthening its current language programmes.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General for the Irish Red Cross Liam O'Dwyer has said that close to €15m has so far been donated by the Irish public in response to an appeal to help people in Ukraine.
People and businesses here are "making significant contributions", Mr Dwyer said.
He said this money is being targeted straight into Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary for the Red Cross, because that is where people are.
There "is a place, obviously for goods or tents and sleeping bags and material like that, but really it needs to be directed to specific places, to specific warehouses", he said.
Mr Dwyer added that so far there has been 13,400 pledges of accommodation and the Red Cross’s "phones have also been inundated".
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said his understanding is there have been conversations between Helen McEntee and the British minister Priti Patel on Ireland's open door policy to refugees from Ukraine.
Mr Martin added that he had not had any representations.
He said Ireland had made it clear that it is part of the EU approach.
Additional reporting: PA
