Volunteers in Stradbally, Co Laois, who supported Ukrainian refugees living in tents over the past six weeks say there is "no way" they can sustain the effort for a further 32 weeks.
It follows yesterday's announcement by the Department of Integration that heated cabins were being installed on the Stradbally Hall Estate, to accommodate up to 950 Ukrainians at any one time, for a period of 32 weeks from 9 November.
The tents that remain at the Stradbally Hall Estate may be brought back into use to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, should the need arise, at any point between now and 9 November, the Department of Integration said.
A spokesperson for the department said that: "The tents in Stradbally are currently empty, but the department has retained them in case of shortages becoming apparent between now and when the cabins begin to be delivered in early November.
"There are no immediate plans to accommodate anyone in the tents but that could change depending on arrival numbers and the ongoing shortage of accommodation," the spokesperson said.
Between 5 September and 17 October, the estate hosted hundreds of newly arrived Ukrainian families in tents that had been used for the Electric picnic.
Speaking on RTE's News at One, Linda Loughnane of the Laois Integration Network, said that volunteers gave "many many hours to support the Ukrainian arrivals," but she said that they did it with "the clear understanding that it was a six-week contract."
"There is no way that a volunteer force can sustain 32 weeks with so many more people expected to arrive. These are the issues that need to be addressed," Ms Loughnane said.
Ms Loughnane added that people had responded very positively to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees and that the "warmth and positivity from the volunteer community has been outstanding."
She said that up to 80 local volunteers had "provided for the basic needs of the arrivals" and said that "without them, the site would not have had the success that it did."
Ms Loughnane explained how they had fund-raised extensively, so that they could provide much needed basic items for people, such as waterproof gear, warm clothing, boots, and socks.
"Coming off buses, for example, you would have a mother and three children, and their only luggage was a carry-on bag," Ms Loughnane explained.
"Who will address and supply all of the things the volunteers provided for in the initial six weeks?" she asked.
"We can't," she said, adding that this gap would then "have to be filled, and it has to be filled quickly."
