Ukrainian refugees to arrive at Millstreet Arena from tonight

It comes as Millstreet's Green Glens Arena in Cork, which could accommodate up to 300 refugees, is set to open this week. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Millstreet Arena is to begin accepting and accommodating displaced Ukraine nationals from Wednesday evening.

It is understood that between 50 and 70 people will be sent to the Cork facility in the first wave but numbers are set to increase significantly in the coming days.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Government sources have said the facility is likely to be full by the weekend.

The demand on the centre will depend on the level of need throughout the system in the coming days.

Due to a shortage of adequate hotel accommodation, the move of people into Millstreet marks the start of the use of such mass emergency accommodation centres for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, which has so far displaced 5m people.

The Government has also prepared tented accommodation at Gormanstown Army Camp, but so far it has not been needed.

It is understood that refugees at Millstreet will be accommodated will be provided with segregated camp beds.

Health supports from the HSE and hot meals will also be provided onsite. It is also understood that Ukraine TV will also be available to those staying there.

The Cabinet, meeting on Wednesday evening, is set to be briefed on the State’s response to the Ukraine crisis.

Ministers are also said to be briefed on the shortage of hotel rooms, which is partially driven by high demand for rooms due to the return of normal domestic and international tourism around the Easter break.

The intention is that stays at these facilities will be for a a few days while medium-term accommodation becomes available.

Ukrainians arriving in Ireland will be housed in mass accommodation centres for as short a period as possible, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said.

Ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening, Ms McEntee said: "It is the case that given the high numbers that have arrived in such a short space of time that we are getting to the point where be it Airbnb or b&bs or hotel accommodation is coming to the maximum capacity. That's why we're looking at all of these other avenues.

"What we're trying to ensure is that those who come into our island, and we have over 24,500 people at this stage — 16,000 of those who have sought accommodation — that they are given accommodation as quickly as possible that were it is emergency accommodation that are then moved on to somewhere more permanent again as quickly as possible.

"Many of these people have young children, many of the children have already started in school so we want to ensure that there's as little disruption as possible, particularly where people are starting to settle."

Ms McEntee said housing is also being secured through the Red Cross and Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has been meeting with the construction sector and consulting with local authorities to try and bring about other forms of accommodation.

Helen McEntee said housing is also being secured through the Red Cross. Picture: Don MacMonagle

Asked about calls to appoint an independent coordinator to handle the overall response to the humanitarian crisis here in Ireland in the coming weeks and months, Ms McEntee said the response is being led directly by the Taoiseach who is working "collaboratively" with other departments.

"The coordinator is the Department of An Taoiseach and he's been very clear in his leadership of our response to Ukraine.

"What's different I think, in our response, but also in the situation is that people are seeking temporary protection. Those who seek longer term protection, obviously through direct provision, there is a longer-term element to it.

"We obviously are continuing to improve our system on how we respond to people in direct provision, but this protection is intended only as a temporary mechanism.

"I would like to see that people from Ukraine can return to their home as soon as this war is over," she said.