The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed that the amount of time Ukrainians who are fleeing the war are given in State accommodation will be looked at and potentially reduced from 90 days to 30.
More than 100,000 Ukrainians have come to Ireland since 2022, with around 80,000 here today.
A leaked note from the Department of Justice said that at least 50 Ukrainian people are arriving in Ireland each day, and it comes as Ukraine changed its laws to allow men aged 18-24 to leave the country.
The note said that Ireland’s capacity could be "exhausted" by the end of November.
Speaking to RTÉ, Mr O’Callaghan said that he will be discussing the matter with Government colleagues "in due course".
"A lot of matters are under consideration, we’re being extremely generous in Ireland in terms of the provision that we give to people coming from Ukraine," he said.
"At present if you arrive in Ireland you’ll receive 90 days of accommodation and we’re just going to have to look at these factors to ensure there’s sufficient accommodation for the people coming because we can’t provide accommodation indefinitely."
Among other changes being looked at include refusing to accommodate those who came to Ireland via a second country, or who had previously been granted temporary protection in another EU country.
Those measures could be brought in soon, while other longer-term changes like reducing and then winding down the Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme will be looked at.
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The scheme allows people hosting Ukrainian refugees a €600 tax-free payment per month.
CEO of the Irish Refugee Council Nick Henderson said he was really concerned that the proposed changes were leaked to the press, saying that it was unhelpful for Ukrainian people living here as well as those who support them.
"But it’s the content that we have real concerns about, particularly the proposal that the accommodation recognition payment, which is hosting probably more than 40,000 people from Ukraine across Ireland in peoples’ homes and spare rooms – that that might be wound down," he said.
"Ukrainian people here don’t really have any other options, they’re not entitled to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and they’re not entitled to social housing."
Mr Henderson said he does not believe someone fleeing war could easily find somewhere else to go after 30 days, particularly in a "very stretched rental market".
He also said he doesn’t believe 30 days would meet the requirements set out in the Temporary Protection Directive which requires Ireland and other EU states to provide Ukrainian refugees suitable accommodation.
Some members of the Ukrainian community in Ireland have been critical of the move, saying that it will be very difficult for people who have fled the war to make arrangements for accommodation in just 30 days.
Nadiya Ivannikova is the principal of Ukrainian Native School, which is a Saturday school established in 2009 that teaches children here about their homeland and culture.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the schools have seen a rise in demand and become community hubs for those who have fled the war.
Ms Ivannikova has been in Ireland for 23 years, but was in Ukraine with her family when the war broke out.
She has helped many people settle here and integrate into Irish life.
"People from Ukraine who came to Ireland are trying to find a safe place for their kids first.
"They’re trying to find peace and care. A lot of people have no friends here or no relation here, they are running away," she said.
"One month is not enough for them to find their own place, or more accommodation and support."
Maria Starukh is the Education Coordinator and Director of the Association of Ukrainians in the Republic of Ireland.
She organises Ukrainian language classes across Ireland, and was speaking today at a Halloween event organised in Sandymount Community Centre.
She said a number of community centres and Educate Together schools have opened their doors to them, so that children can "learn about their culture, their tradition, and their language and it makes them happy".
She said the community is overwhelmingly thankful to Ireland for all of its support, but added that accommodation can be a difficult topic given shortages here.
She said they will do their best to help Ukrainians with the challenges they may face if their accommodation is cut to 30 days, but that ultimately she understands measures may need to be taken if there are issues with capacity.
Neonila Struk came to Ireland two years ago, and teaches at the Saturday school in Drogheda.
She said that it will be "very difficult" for people living with the stress of war and no English to find a place in one month.
