The head of the Irish Red Cross has warned 'push will come to shove' in September around accomodation for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland.
Liam O'Dwyer was speaking as temporary contracts with hotels and B&Bs are due to expire in about six weeks, which means thousands of refugees could be without somewhere to stay.
He told The Hard Shoulder student accommodation is being used, for now.
"At the moment what's happening is that refugees are moving out of some hotels, because obviously the hotels have their own business coming in - in terms of tourist business.
"And the accommodation being provided is into some of the student accomodation, which in turn then will be required back in the middle of August.
"All that said the accommodation pledges are certainly materialising at this stage, and people are moving into those through the local authorities."
But he says this will come to a head in a few months.
"Push will come to shove, probably around September, when I suppose the students are back.
"And I know that's why the Government are looking at more innovate and creative solutions like the residential situations of religious and also the modular housing".
'Generosity of the religious'
Mr O'Dwyer explains that property owned by religious orders is also being utilised.
"A number of those places have been renovated and used.
"The convent in Templemore is a really good example of it; the convent in Fethard in Tipperary is another good example of it.
"They're actually not just good examples of the use of property, the generosity of the religious I must say, but they're really good examples how communities... gather round and support people as well".
And he says there is an ongoing "intensive process" around shared accommodation pledges and Garda vetting.
"There is a degree of complexity about the whole thing, which often isn't understood initially.
"And people say 'God, why aren't people in houses?' - people will be in, it just takes a bit more time than people would normally expect".
