From tonight, Dublin Airport will not be used to house refugees after the Citywest Transit Hub temporarily closed to new arrivals today.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, earlier said Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants who arrived at Dublin Airport would be asked to wait there, because the Citywest Transit Hub had reached capacity this afternoon.
However, a Department spokesperson said that this would not now be happening.
He said the situation was evolving and it had now been decided that new arrivals would be transported to Citywest where women and children would be accommodated, while NGOs would attempt to find accommodation for single men.
He said the Department is in ongoing discussions with the daa about identifying a suitable location at the airport to temporarily accommodate refugees.
He added that Citywest remains effectively closed to new arrivals and the situation remains precarious.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the department said a significant increase in the number of people seeking accommodation in recent weeks had resulted in the Citywest Transit Hub reaching capacity.
"In the interests of the welfare of those presently at Citywest awaiting accommodation, a decision has now been taken to pause arrivals to the transit hub until numbers can reduce," the department said.
The statement said that should capacity become available, entry to Citywest will be prioritised for families and those with vulnerabilities where this is possible.
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman said: "We've seen a particular increase in the number of both Ukrainians and international protection applicants arriving in Ireland, particularly in the last month.
"And that's a real strain on our transit hub in Citywest."
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Minister O'Gorman said they were working across Government to secure alternative sources of accommodation and there would be a cabinet committee meeting on Monday to look at those potential alternatives.
"We've notified the Ukrainian Embassy of this, but I think it is important to say that into the next month, the availability of significant additional accommodation isn't apparent right now," he said.
The Department said it was working urgently so that the State's humanitarian responsibilities can be met for both international protection and those from Ukraine.
However, the statement said access to suitable accommodation is severely constrained with current projections indicating a shortfall of 15,000 beds by December.
The Department said it was now accommodating over 58,000 people - 42,000 Ukrainians and 16,000 people seeking international protection.
This figure compares to 7,250 last year.
Read more: Govt warning about capacity at Citywest transit hub
