Three-month limit on State accommodation for Ukrainians 'not feasible' 

Kateryna Mykhaylivna Yushchenko, former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko, and Maynooth University president Eeva Leinonen at the event on Monday night. Picture: Maxwell’s

A proposal to offer State accommodation to newly arrived Ukrainians in Ireland for three months before they have to find their own place to live is “not feasible”, support groups have said.

On Monday night, Coalition leaders were discussing the policy, which would mark a significant shift in how the State offers shelter to those fleeing war in Ukraine.

A memo on changes could go to Cabinet on Tuesday, once Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan sign off on it.

The Irish Examiner revealed that Ukrainians will have to either find accommodation in the private rental sector or take a property pledged through the ‘offer a home’ scheme after three months of State-provided accommodation.

Sources said the move is intended to bring Ireland’s offering in line with other EU countries.

However, a Government source last night expressed concern that the decision may result in increased homelessness if Ukrainians can not find accommodation after three months.

One source said: “The safety net here will need to be clear cut, and provisions will have to be put in place to ensure this doesn’t add to the homelessness figures.”

Representative groups for Ukrainians living in Ireland expressed concern at the proposal, with Kate Durrant of the Community Response Forum questioning the availability of housing once the three-month period ends.

She told the Irish Examiner: “I think it’s not at all feasible. It’s completely utopian as far as I can see.”

Meanwhile, former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko has said Ukraine will become a member of Nato and join the EU.

Speaking at an event in NUI Maynooth, he hit out at the international community for delays in providing military training and supplies to win the war against Russia and suggested Russian troops might have been overcome quicker with greater supports.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Yushchenko said he believes Ukraine will be victorious against Vladimir Putin very soon and "the whole world will be proud that it helped us achieve it".