Hotels are to be used to house Ukrainian migrants under measures being finalised by the Department of Children on Friday evening.
The move follows the wider decision on Thursday to offer “temporary protection” to Ukrainian citizens throughout the EU.
That move means Ukrainians arriving in EU states do not need to prove their status as someone who was in danger in their home country, and they will be allowed to seek work while in the EU.
The change will provide an immediate right of access to the labour market, housing, social welfare, healthcare, education, training and other supports.
The department said the numbers of Ukrainians arriving at Dublin airport had risen sharply since Minister for Justice Helen McEntee had lifted the visa requirement on February 25th.
On that day the number of arrivals was eight. On Thursday, the comparable figure was 171, - down from 182 on Wednesday.
Arrangements for displaced Ukrainians are being worked out between a range of Government departments including the Department of Foreign Affairs which articulates policy, the Department of Justice which is responsible for immigration and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, which is to organise accommodation where it is needed.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said “temporary protection” was an emergency provision “designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression”.
The terms of the Directive will also apply to Ukrainian nationals who arrived into the State since the invasion of Ukraine began.
The spokesman said while it was open to Ukrainians to seek permission to stay in Ireland under pre-existing measures, it was likely the temporary protection measure would ensure “ the most streamlined route for a residence permission”.
In relation to accommodation the Department of Children said in the first instance hotels would be used to accommodate those in need. This is because the State has recent experience of using hotels both for direct provision and during the Covid pandemic. However the spokesman said “all available options will be looked at, depending on numbers”.
The Irish Red Cross maintains a register of pledged and private rented accommodation. More than 100 separate pledges had been registered by Friday and a number of other charities are expected to offer similar resettlement assistance if the numbers coming to Ireland necessitate such a move.
