Ukrainians in temporary protection hotels no longer permitted short-term absences

Ukrainian evacuees at the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border, in March, 2022, following Russia's invasion. Picture: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty  

Thousands of Ukrainians in temporary protection hotels and hostels have been told short-term absences are no longer allowed.

To date, absences have been recorded in hotels for holiday, travel, as well as medical treatment in Ukraine. A new change to Government policy means those who leave their hotel accommodation for a number of days risk losing that space, but will have the right to apply for alternatives, according to the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT), the agency responsible for placing Ukrainian refugees.

It has told accommodation providers that, as of October 9, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) can only be absent from the State accommodation in “exceptional circumstances” and that it has suspended the right to an absence of seven days over a six-month period.

It blamed the shortage of accommodation and the numbers of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland every day, up to 200.

Those who wish to leave their accommodation under the exceptional circumstances provision will have to apply in advance, and if approval is not secured, their accommodation may be reallocated with no further offer of accommodation to be provided.

If a new offer is made, there is no guarantee that the new offer will be of similar quality to the accommodation that was vacated, or that it will be in the same area.

The Department of Integration confirmed the clampdown, changing its policy due to a lack of available supply.

A spokesperson said: “It is of paramount importance that the State takes all necessary steps to maximise the supply of available beds as we approach the winter months.”

Meanwhile, Kerry County Council has said Killarney and South Kerry are “at capacity” when it comes hosting further “commercial” contracts for Ukrainian refugees. These are contracts involving 15 or more people.

A small number of hotels and large houses seeking to host large numbers of Ukrainians for the winter in and around Killarney have been turned down in recent weeks.

Areas of South Kerry are “at capacity” and do not have the services to accommodate further commercial contracts, according to the senior engineer in charge of the council’s special unit responding to the Ukrainian crisis.

There are not enough services “to enable proper integration” of further numbers, senior engineer Eamon Scanlon said, adding that schools, GPs, and other services are full.

The council also wants to free up tourist accommodation because of the impact on restaurants, bars, and other businesses.

Kerry has 8,707 Ukrainian refugees under temporary protection, with Killarney LEA having the highest numbers in the country.

A spokesperson for the department said it is considering accommodation offers in Kerry in the same way as other counties, taking into account existing numbers and available service provision.

“The department does take the views of the local authority into account when making a final decision on whether to contract for a property.”