Accommodation centres returning to original or alternative use

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The need for accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine is decreasing across the country. This means that some Ukraine accommodation centres will be closing, and some people will be asked to move to new accommodation.

This process was paused during March to allow for greater planning and notice periods for residents. Relocations of residents from some Ukraine properties are now being planned to begin in June and continue throughout the summer period.

At one time, Ireland provided emergency accommodation to over 60,000 people as part of the whole-of-Government response to the war in Ukraine, supported by Local Authorities and communities.

The need for accommodation for people affected by the war in Ukraine is reducing and this is expected to continue. Many people are choosing to move on from State-supported accommodation or are leaving Ireland. State accommodation contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the owner chooses to end their contract.

Because the Department must ensure value for money and an effective system overall, this means some people will be moved to other locations, if they still require State-contracted accommodation. Properties can return to private use, tourism or student use, and a small proportion may be used for International Protection accommodation.

The Department will be ending contracts in a range of centres that we no longer need for various reasons:

• Some are ending due to reduced need overall. This means they can return to tourism, student or private use
• Some providers chose to end contracts
• Some compliance concerns exist, or rates could not be agreed

Compliance concerns arise when a provider is not meeting the required standards of service. They might include health, safety and wellbeing concerns for residents, incorrect charges by providers or unregulated secondary properties, among others.

• About 23,400 people are resident in about 670 State-supported Ukraine accommodation at present.
• Approximately 420 contracts ended in 2024, releasing over 15,000 beds for other uses.
• Other contracts may end over the next months, and the Department keeps the accommodation portfolio under constant review.

The next use of the property after a contract ends is a decision for the provider.

• About 12,000 beds returned to tourism from use by the Department from May-November 2024 and this reduction is likely to continue.
• In this phase, we expect almost 1,800 beds to be returned to the student accommodation sector.

We will be sending updates, through the accommodation providers, to the residents who will be affected, to let them know that the contract is ending with that provider.

We will inform them that if they wish to continue to receive State-funded accommodation, it will be provided in another location.

We will be giving them the final contracted date of their accommodation, at least 30 days in advance. In some cases, where possible, notice periods of greater than two months are being provided.

We will also inform people of their options to source their own accommodation if they wish to stay in the area, either through the pledge and Offer a Home schemes, subject to availability, or privately using supports available to them such as rent supplement.

All residents who request continued State accommodation will be moved. The Department has to make best use of existing accommodation contracts, and so new locations may not be in the same area.

Information on the location of their follow-on State funded property will be provided closer to the date of transfer, with as much notice as possible given of the transfer details. Transport will be provided to the new accommodation centres.

We will be providing a list of all relocations, dates and in time, destinations, to key local State stakeholders as early as possible, to enable local support services to be activated as needed – for example, to assist people to register with schools in their new area in time for the next term etc.

Some Ukraine accommodation centres have been accommodating international protection applicants in vacancies as need has reduced among people from Ukraine.

In 2024, approximately 400 Ukraine accommodation contracts ended, and 11 of these centres moved to provide international protection accommodation.

Of the properties above, two have commenced contracts for international protection accommodation in 2025:

• Dundrum House, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary
• Merriman Hotel, Kinvara, Co. Galway

Four other properties have expressed an interest in providing international protection accommodation. These properties are already providing accommodation for some people seeking international protection in vacancies.

No decision has been made in relation to these offers and the appraisal processes are ongoing.

The Department’s Community Engagement Team will provide further information to communities and local representatives in the areas surrounding these properties in due course.

The remaining Ukraine properties above are returning to private use, which may include tourism or student accommodation.