The Government could suspend signing new hotel contracts to accommodate people fleeing Ukraine after the numbers arriving here almost halved since December.
A revised accommodation strategy is reportedly being drawn up by the Department of Integration, including a plan to terminate contracts for 'unsuitable accommodation'.
Irish Times Political Reporter Jack Horgan-Jones told The Pat Kenny Show the move would be a 'step-change' in what the country has been doing up to now.
"It kind of runs contrary to everything we've known for the guts of two years about the State's mad scramble to find accomodation," he said.
"What the Cabinet Subcommittee on Ukraine was told yesterday was effectively there's been a step-change in the numbers of people arriving who are fleeing that war.
"About 796 people came in the month up to January 22nd, that compares to a total of 2,150 in December.
"Alongside this, Ukrainians are now leaving State-provided accomodation at a higher rate to seek independent lodgings, return to Ukraine or travel elsewhere."
'Correlation and causation'
Mr Horgan-Jones said the result of all these changes means less accommodation is needed.
"It would suggest that if these trends continue [the Government doesn't] need to continue that mad scramble, or at least it looks like they may not have to continue that mad scramble, for new accommodation," he said.
"At least on the Ukrainian - the Temporary Protection - side".
Mr Horgan-Jones said the drop off came as Ireland brought its system line with other EU countries.
"We had those changes being agreed at the start of December around slashing the rate of welfare that would be paid, and really cutting to the bone the accommodation entitlement to 90 days.
"There does seem to be a logical conclusion there, that once that made its way into the public domain and once the Government began to legislate for those provisions... the numbers seemed to drop off a cliff.
"I think there's certainly a strong view within Government that this correlation is a causation and the two things go hand-in-hand," he added.
Safe countries
It comes as Justice Minister Helen McEntee is set to expand the list of 'safe countries' in a bid to cut down on the numbers arriving here seeking international protection.
A safe country is defined as a one where, on the basis of the legal situation, there is generally no persecution, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
It is understood the Minister plans to add more countries to the current list of eight which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo and South Africa.
The Government is also considering substantially increasing fines imposed on airlines if passengers arrive here without passports or official documents.
More than 8,000 people arrived at Dublin Airport without valid identification in 2022 and 2023.
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