The cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss proposals that would see vacant social housing used as accommodation for Ukrainians. 

By Sunday 25,000 refugees from Ukraine had arrived in Ireland and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously admitted that the state will be “stretched” to find housing for them all. 

There is concern that all available housing options will soon be at full capacity and the only alternative is to refurbish vacant social housing. 

Local authorities will also be given greater flexibility to buy new properties as well. 

“It sounds like a really good plan,” Liam O' Dwyer, Interim Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross, told Newstalk. 

“It’s good to see that type of creative thinking coming into play because this is a real challenge for everybody. 

“And I think Irish people are trying to do their best for the Ukrainian people who have come to stay with us for this period.” 

LVIV, UKRAINE - APR 02, 2022: Humanitarian catastrophe during at war in Ukraine. Refugees with a pet small dog from Mariupol are flees to Europe at th

The Irish Red Cross has been at the forefront of arranging housing for arrivals and has been working closely with the Government on the issue. 

Around half of all people who expressed an interest in taking in a refugee have withdrawn their offer - citing reasons as varied as not being able to afford higher utility bills or having realised their home is too remote. 

However, the Red Cross has passed the details of nearly 2,000 suitable homeowners onto the Government: 

“1,900 of those [pledged homes] have been [judged] successful and we’ve sent those to the Department,” Mr O’Dwyer explained. 

“So then we turned our attention to the shared [home] pledges and we have just phoned and phoned and phoned over weekends. 

“We have at this stage three call centres officially operating on our behalf and then other volunteers and we’re nearly completed.”

Main image: Ukrainians walk from Ukraine to Isaccea in Romania after crossing the border on March 5th 2022. Picture by: Liviu Pazargic / Alamy Stock Photo