A housing expert says the Government could use emergency powers to compel the use of unoccupied properties for refugees.
Lorcan Sirr was speaking as around 5,500 Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed in Ireland so far.
Earlier this month, the Government predicted that as many as 20,000 might choose to flee to Ireland.
Dr Sirr, senior lecturer in housing at TU Dublin, told Newstalk Breakfast the Government should look at all housing options.
"The host family thing I think is probably a short-term measure really.
"And constructing housing: we can't build enough housing for ourselves, for our own social housing requirements.
"So what you do in a situation like that is that you reach for the low-hanging fruit: and the low-hanging fruit is existing, unoccupied buildings.
"That could be student accommodation, it could be build-to-rent apartments that are finished, it could be institutional settings.
"But the really obviously one, because they tend to be in good condition and occupiable straight away, are holiday homes.
"We've got about 62,000 of those around the country."
Emergency Powers Act
He says the Government could mandate this under the Emergency Powers Act.
"We had one during The Emergency - 1939 to 1946 - it allows the Government to do many, many things without seeking permission of the owners.
"And one of the things it allows the Government to do is occupy land or property if it needs it for the purposes of the Emergency.
"I'm not saying they should do that for free, but I would suggest a flat rate of €400/500 a month - or whatever it is - that they should pay the owners".
But he believes such a move could be politically sensitive.
"It would require a little bit of enabling legislation, and probably a lot of political backbone.
"But I think there's housing there, and there's housing available.
"I think what the Government should be doing is exploring all sorts of unoccupied properties - including new apartment blocks, empty student housing and holiday homes.
"And no matter who the landlord is, I think the Government - if we need the properties - I think we should appropriate them, absolutely".
