A total of 2,228 Ukrainians, including 580 children, have arrived in Ireland since the Government changed its housing policy in March. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
It is understood a handful of Ukrainians were asked to leave their State-provided housing on Wednesday but were quickly rehoused through pledged accommodation. “Despite the best efforts of support agencies and organisations, there are families that have not been able to find anywhere to live beyond their deadline to leave the centre,” said Mr Lannon. He also expressed concern of the risk of “exploitation or extortion of people who are desperate”.
Weekly arrivals dropped slightly in mid-April, when 128 people arrived, before slowly rising to 202 arrivals during the last week of May and 184 arrivals during the first week of June. More Ukrainian men than women have sought temporary protection in Ireland since March, contrasting with figures from 2022 and 2023, when most arrivals were women and children.
Ukrainians who have sought protection since March had been provided with “intensive supports” to help them source independent accommodation, including efforts to accept pledged properties which do not fall within the 90-day rule, said the spokesman.