Ukraine Civil Society Forum urges government to revise recent accommodation policies

The Ukrainian Civil Society Forum called on the government of Ireland to reverse recent reductions in accommodation support for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, warning that the policy change risks forcing families to return to dangerous conditions during the winter months. The organisation urged the government to reinstate the original 90-day reception period to accommodate newly-arrived Ukrainians for at least the next 6 months and to review the policy again at the end of that period.

In November 2025, the government reduced the initial reception accommodation period for Ukrainians under the Temporary Protection Directive from 90 days to 30 days. The policy change was introduced in response to a temporary increase in arrivals during September and October 2025, as well as capacity pressures within available accommodation.

However, the forum said that the increase in arrivals was short-lived. It noted that weekly figures are now less than half of those recorded during the peak months in late 2025. As a result, the organisation believes there is sufficient capacity within the State’s Designated Accommodation Centres to support a reversal of the policy and a reinstatement of the original 90-day reception period.

The Ukrainian Civil Society Forum said it has been monitoring cases where families arriving from Ukraine since the policy change have struggled to find accommodation within the shortened timeframe. In some instances, families have returned to Ukraine with their children due to a lack of housing in Ireland, despite widespread power and heating outages, temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees, and ongoing drone attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Commenting on the situation, Brian Killoran said the justification for reducing the level of support has not materialised.

He said new arrival figures returned to more typical levels toward the end of 2025 and have remained stable into 2026. He added that the Forum believes there is sufficient capacity within existing accommodation centres to immediately reverse the policy change.

Killoran also emphasised that 30 days is not enough time for individuals or families to settle in a new country and find accommodation, particularly when they may not speak the language or understand the housing system. He cited reports of families being forced to leave Ireland, including a mother with five children aged between one and fourteen, and another couple with an eleven-month-old baby who had to return to a warzone.

The Forum said that Ireland, like many countries across Europe, has provided a significant humanitarian response to people displaced by the war. However, it warned that although the conflict has continued longer than many anticipated, the needs of displaced Ukrainians remain. The organisation said Ireland must ensure that compassion and humanitarian commitments remain central to its response while the need for protection continues.