There will be a shortage of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees here by the end of this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told Cabinet colleagues.
And the Government estimates that up to 33,000 refugees could be seeking accommodation in Ireland by the end of May.
It comes as refugees were being placed in mass emergency accommodation for the first time on Wednesday night in Millstreet Arena in Cork.
Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said “we are under real pressure and we’re being upfront about that.”
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He confirmed Millstreet will be used for the first time on Wednesday and said there is capacity there for up to 300 people.
The arena has been kitted out with camp beds and refugees placed here will be provided with healthcare and hot meals.
Cabinet heard on Wednesday night that there will be a shortage of accommodation by the end of April based on the assumption of 400 arrivals every day with a minimum of 75% and a maximum of 100% seeking accommodation here until the end of June.
On that basis, Mr Martin told Cabinet there will have been between 29,000 and 33,000 people seeking accommodation.
And numbers seeking accommodation per day will peak at between 300 and 400.
Mr Martin briefed Cabinet colleagues that there remains a high risk of shortages of emergency and short-term accommodation in the immediate term.
As of Tuesday, the total number of arrivals from Ukraine was 24,438 with a total of 16,128 having sought accommodation from the State.
Numbers arriving have fallen over the last week due to flights being pre-booked for Easter holidays.
But it is expected that numbers of arrivals will increase again following the holiday period.
There are currently over 1,271 accommodated in emergency beds out of a total of 2325 available, through Local Authorities if required.
Cabinet also heard “significant” additional serviced accommodation has been sourced by the Department of Children in recent weeks to cope with demand – nearly 10,500 beds.
The Department of Children have forwarded approximately 700 properties to Local Authorities for placements, with more than 100 other properties sent for allocation to other implementing partners, including the Peter McVerry Trust.
By the end of the week, it is expected around 200 people will have moved to vacant properties.
At close of business on Tuesday, the Department of Social Protection had allocated 24,201 PPS numbers to displaced people from Ukraine.
Of this cohort, 86.5% are women and children; 51% of Ukrainian arrivals are adult women; 36% are children; 13% are adult males; 5% of the adults are aged 66 or over.
Of the children 12% are infants/preschool; 57% are primary school age; 31% are secondary school age.
Cabinet also heard a medical card application process is in place and as of April 18, 7,972 medical cards have been issued.
Figures up to Tuesday show that a total of 3,190 students from Ukraine have enrolled in schools; 2,096 primary and 1,094 post-primary, across all 26 counties.
Tusla is maintaining a presence at Dublin Airport and is reporting 114 unaccompanied minors from Ukraine referred to date.
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