Widespread anxiety as thousands of Offaly / Tipp Ukrainians given short-term notice
Since August, Ukrainian refugee centres across Ireland have received letters from the Department of Justice announcing the change.
THERE is widespread anxiety among thousands of the Ukrainian refugee population of Offaly and Tipperary who have been given short-term notice to leave their accommodation by the Department of Justice.
3,268 Ukrainians in the two counties will be affected by the closing of many centres throughout the region and the ending of financial supports for their hosts.
“That is very unfair,” one of the hosts told The Midland Tribune this week. “It means that a huge number of them is being affected. This is happening in the middle of winter and during the school terms. The refugees have between now and the 31st of March 2027 to find alternative accommodation.”
The Irish government announced in May that it was going to phase out state-provided commercial accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. Meanwhile, international protection applicants (refugees and asylum seekers from other countries) will continue to be accommodated through the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS).
The Ukrainian Accommodation Phase-Out primarily applies to Ukrainians who arrived under the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BOTP) scheme before March 2024. The refugees who will be exempt will be vulnerable individuals (such as those with severe medical or care needs). These vulnerable individuals will have to “self-declare and provide supporting evidence”, after which they will be allowed to remain in state-supported accommodation. Those who are leaving state housing are expected to transition to independent private rental housing or standard social welfare assistance if they meet regular criteria. A new Temporary Protection Transition Scheme has been introduced for eligible Ukrainians who have established long-term ties or employment in Ireland.
Since August, Ukrainian refugee centres across Ireland have received letters from the Department of Justice announcing the change. Since the letters have started arriving, Ukrainian refugees, advocacy groups and charities across Ireland have expressed widespread anxiety and concern. They point out there is a risk of homelessness, with thousands of Ukrainians (including families and individuals) having been given short-term notice (such as three-month deadlines) to leave state-contracted hotels and centres. They say the country's neverending severe Housing Crisis is a cause for huge concern. Finding alternative private-market rental accommodation in Ireland's tight and expensive housing market is extremely difficult, leaving many worried they will have nowhere to go.
There is also the disruption to children and work. Families worry about uprooting children who are settled in local schools, losing specialized educational supports, or disrupting established employment.
Support groups have raised alarms for vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, people with chronic illnesses or disabilities, and those with pets or guide dogs who face added barriers.
Critics and advocacy organizations (such as the Irish Refugee Council and various community groups) have pointed out a contradiction and an inconsistency in the State's position. They point out that the State continues to express solidarity with Ukraine while abruptly rolling back core support systems while the war is still ongoing. They also point out that refugees and asylum seekers from other countries will not be similarly affected.
One of the hosts of one the Offaly centres which is being phased out shared this letter with The Midland Tribune. It was recently sent to the host by the Department of Justice:
“Good afternoon. Further to Government agreed changes to the provision of State supported accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) affected by the war in Ukraine, and following the termination notice issued by the Department, all such residents will cease to reside in your property with final departures taking place by 31st January 2027. Accordingly, please find attached a letter in English, Ukrainian and Russian to the BoTP residents in your property informing them of this date and providing them with information on supports and services regarding further accommodation options.”
This was the Department of Justice letter which the host handed out to the residents: “Dear Residents. As you know, the Government has agreed changes to how the State provides accommodation for people affected by the war in Ukraine. This means that we will no longer be offering accommodation to all people who are beneficiaries of temporary protection who arrived into Ireland before March 2024.
“This note provides you with information on: A change to your accommodation that will happen soon; Your accommodation options, information and support services; What to do if you have further questions.
“Change to your accommodation: The accommodation you are currently receiving will come to an end on 31 January 2027. People currently living at this centre may have already applied for accommodation at a State Supported Accommodation Centre if they have specific needs. OR: Source independent accommodation: We are giving you notice of this change so that you have time to prepare and make arrangements to move out of the accommodation by this date. This letter also outlines the information and supports that will be available to you and lets you know what to do next.
“Your accommodation options: If you feel you cannot manage in independent accommodation, you were advised that you could apply to our Department for ongoing accommodation. How to apply for continued accommodation: The application for continued State-supported accommodation was available from 04 August until 11 September 2026. The application process has now closed. You will be notified of the decision in due course. If you are accepted for continued accommodation: If your application is accepted, you will be accommodated in a Designated Accommodation Centre. There will be a number of centres available in various locations around the country. The accommodation offered will be in a new location and we will try to give successful applicants as much notice as possible of their allocated accommodation and date of transfer. Please note that people who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who live in a Designated Accommodation Centre where meals and utilities are provided no longer qualify for certain social assistance payments. People who are accommodated in a Designated Accommodation Centre will be moved to the weekly Beneficiary of Temporary Protection weekly payment, which is €38.80 in respect of each adult and €29.80 for each child. Please note, we can no longer provide any accommodation for pets. If you own a pet, you will have to make alternative arrangements for it. It should also be noted that if you refuse the offer of accommodation there will be no further offers made. You will be deemed to have refused accommodation and will be discharged from our systems.”
Nine centres in Offaly and 13 centres in Tipperary will be affected. The centres in Offaly are in Tullamore, Birr, Shannonbridge, Moneygall and Daingean.
In Tipperary the centres are located in Toomevara, Thurles, Clonmel, Cahir, Fethard and Carrick on Suir.
The refugees deemed to be “vulnerable individuals” by the Department of Justice (such as those with severe medical or care needs) might be housed in centres in Banagher and Clara. Inchmore House, Clara, has been reported as a Designated Accommodation Centre for new arrivals (reported capacity 230); however, this does not establish that it is an approved long-term vulnerable-persons placement. Banagher has been suggested as another possible location, but its present designation, catering arrangements and suitability for vulnerable placements have not been independently verified. Therefore neither centre can be called an option until confirmation is received from the Department.