Tánaiste Micheál Martin has defended the Government's response to providing accommodation for people seeking asylum, saying it has been "very significant" - while acknowledging that delays in payments to accommodation providers is not acceptable.
He said the issuing of letters to quit to 1,600 people has to be seen in the context of almost 55,000 being directly accommodated.
"We always knew that in respect of some hotels, because of the arrival of the tourist season that there would be some who would not continue, but in the overall context of 50,000 nearly close to 55,000 directly accommodated, 1,600 has to be seen in a context," the Tánaiste said.
"But that said, it is challenging, and there's no point in saying it isn't, it is but we are working and will work with those who would have to leave those hotels to secure alternative accommodation."
Defending the State's provision of accommodation to date, the Tánaiste speaking in Tralee said the State has had to deal with an unprecedented number of people seeking refuge here but said there is now a 'clear pathway and programme' for future needs.
"Over 77,000 Ukrainians have come into the country," he said.
"We now have in addition to that 20,000 seeking international protection in accommodation overall so we have never ever experienced that level of number in the history of the State.
"Now that said, we have a very clear pathway and programme ahead now in terms of further medium term accommodation, in terms of longer rapid-build housing which is nearly complete in some instances and will be ready by April, but also we are developing pods that will have a 30 year duration, which will also be on sites which we have in our possession and will secure, and then there's reconfiguration of public buildings."
He said a working accommodation group headed by the former County Manager of Limerick Con Murray was established before Christmas to plan for the future.
Responding to criticism about payments to accommodation providers, the Tánaiste accepted this but said an alternative payments system has now been developed to deal with this.
And he said given the unprecedented demand for accommodation, "the overall picture is one, I think, of a very substantial response".
"I think the degree of the Irish response has been very significant," Mr Martin said.
"Can we do better again, we can and we will work on this, obviously to increase new opportunities for accommodation both on the rapid build sites and developing pods on particular sites that we've now earmarked, like Thornton Hall, (and) Columb Barracks."
Further refugee housing 'problem' anticipated - O'Brien
Minister of State for Integration Joe O'Brien has acknowledged the "undoubted" pressure to house refugees and anticipates a problem in the upcoming weeks and months with the "likely" ending of contracts.
"We don't have adequate contracts coming on to replace them but there is very intensive work to add more contracts as we go along," he said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Colm Ó Mongáin, Minister O'Brien said the situation is "very pressing".
"We are not able to accommodate everyone at the moment that is actually looking for shelter," he said.
Around 80,000 Ukrainians are seeking refuge in Ireland compared to 8,000 this time last year, he added.
Having to move refugees to new accommodation is unfortunately an "ongoing practice" when contracts run out, he said, and when a contract with a hotel or accommodation provider ends the State aims to rehouse people in the locality to ensure minimal disruption.
Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall said the Government needs to step up to the challenge and have sufficient people in place to manage the situation.
She said she has "a lot of sympathy" for Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman as she believes it should have been an all-of-Government response instead of his department left to handle it.
Ms Shortall said that "staff should have been redeployed from other departments".
She said it has been known that this spring there will be huge pressure as hotels will want their rooms back and, she said, the Government owes a substantial amount of money to them already.
Ms Shortall said it is unforgivable that the Government "did not pay its bills" and added that there had been other properties identified that would have been suitable to house refugees.
Independent TD for Wexford Verona Murphy said the delay in payments is acting as a deterrent to hotels and said the department handling the housing of refugees is overwhelmed.
She said the issue is not being dealt with.
