THE GOVENRMENT IS facing criticism from advocates and opposition politicians over concerns that Ukrainians in designated State accommodation centres may find themselves homeless as they have to leave the centres in the coming weeks.

It was been described it as a “cold and callous” policy by the Ukraine Civil Society Forum which said there is a big risk women and children will be left out on the streets.

The first set of Ukrainians who have been living in State-provided accommodation reached their 90-day limit to stay in the accommodation on Wednesday.

The Ukraine Civil Society Forum warned that as many as 30-40 people per week will be forced out onto the streets due to the change.

Earlier this year, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that there were 15 people from Ukraine on average seeking state accommodations, but 45 people from Ukraine were on average also leaving state accommodation.

This would leave roughly 175 fewer Ukrainian people in state accommodation each week to free up accommodation for other people seeking asylum, according to the government.

The Ukraine Civil Society said notices have been erected in designated accommodation centres informing residents that once they reach their 90th day their belongings will be taken elsewhere and they will have to leave.

Emma Lane-Spollen, national coordinator of the Ukraine Civil Society, told RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime the people being forced out would have left Ukraine and arrived to Ireland only in recent months.

“There’s no access to homeless services, there’s no emergency BnBs as you’d expect for Irish people who become homeless,” Lane-Spollen told the programme yesterday evening.

“And this is not driven by a lack of beds, there a over 2,000 empty beds that being paid for within the system. It is an extremely cold and callous policy.”

The government defended itself against the criticism today, saying that changes were necessary more than two years into the war.

Minister of State James Browne told the Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin that he was proud of what had been one for refugees from Ukraine up to now, but said that there cannot be a situation where the government is providing “open-ended accommodation” for refugees.

He claimed that there was a “frustration” in Ireland over “secondary movements”, whereby a Ukrainian refugee arrives to Ireland after first spending time in another country.

Asked to expand on the point, he said: “If you’re fleeing a war that’s one thing, but if you’re already being accommodated in one EU state there’s no real reason to be moving to another new EU state to seek a different type of support.”

This is the letter being received by Ukrainian refugees who are nearing their 90th day in state provided accommodation...we'll get reaction from our political panel @JamesBrowneTD @Farrell_Mairead & @paulmurphy_TD @RTERadio1 pic.twitter.com/lb0O301RPe

— Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin (@SaturdayRTE) June 15, 2024

Natalia Krasnenkova, who lives in Co Kerry and stood unsuccessfully in the local elections there, said it can be very difficult to find accommodation after arriving here having fled war.

She said it took her “six months to find an apartment to rent” despite having a full-time job, accommodation references and social connections.

“It’s impossible to find accommodation” so soon after arriving in a new country when they don’t have English or a job.

She added that there was no long-term strategy and instead the government was making “spontaneous” decisions.

“We are here not because it’s our decision, it’s because of war,” she said.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy slammed the government for “performative cruelty” over the accommodation decisions.

“I think how Ukrainians were treated initially should be how we treat people who are seeking asylum,” he said, referring to allowing them to work and provide more generous welfare entitlements.

Murphy added that the prior policy was “basically treating Ukrainians properly” whereas people from Palestine are “left on the streets ad given €38.50″.

The Dublin TD said the numbers of people coming to Ireland are falling and that the government should adopt the “Ukrainian model” for all people seeking asylum here.