Ukraine Civil Society Forum: Inhumane conditions in Ukraine highlights need for immediate reversal of accommodation changes for Ukrainians in Ireland
12.02.2026 — The Ukraine Civil Society Forum (UCSF) today called on the government to reverse recent reductions in accommodation support provided to Ukrainians in Ireland, as life threatening winter conditions in war-torn Ukraine, where electricity and heating supply are brutally targeted by daily Russian drones and missiles.
The UCSF urged the government to revert to the initial 90 day reception period for accommodation for the next six months and to review the policy further at the end of that period.
In November 2025 the initial reception accommodation period granted to newly arrived Ukrainians benefiting from Temporary Protection status was drastically reduced from 90 days to 30 days. The policy change was viewed by the government as a necessary response as a result of higher new arrival figures in September and October 2025 and capacity issues within available accommodation.
That temporary rise in new arrivals has not continued with recent weekly numbers of new arrivals less than half of those in the preceding months, and as such, the Forum believe capacity exists within the Designated Accommodation Centers to support a reversal of the policy and a reinstatement of the original 90 day reception period.
The UCSF is monitoring situations where families that have arrived from Ukraine, since this policy change, have had insufficient time to source alternative accommodation. Some have had to return to Ukraine with their children to widespread power and heating outages, temperatures of minus 20 degrees, and daily drone attacks.
Commenting on the situation, UCSF National Coordinator Brian Killoran said:
‘The rationale, such as it was, to reduce the support provided to newly arrived Ukrainian refugees has not materialised. New arrival figures returned to normal levels towards the end of 2025, and have remained so into 2026. We believe there is sufficient capacity within existing Designated Accommodation Centres to reverse this policy change immediately. We simply have to reinvigorate the humanitarian aim of Ireland's support, and not allow compassion fatigue to cloud our actions as a country in the face of dire need.
‘Thirty days simply is not enough time for an individual or family to find their feet in a strange land without one’s own language to source alternative accommodation. We have had reports of one family, a mother with five children, ranging in ages from one to fourteen years of age, having to leave the state, and another couple with a child of only eleven months having to return to a warzone.
‘Ireland, like much of Europe, has provided an enormous humanitarian response to the needs of those displaced by this terrible ongoing war. No one, least of all Ukrainians themselves, want this terrible displacement to continue, nor did we envision it would still be ongoing four years later. But the reality eclipses wishful thinking, and the needs of displaced Ukrainians remains. We must put the ‘human’ back into our humanitarian response and recognize that, while the need is still there, our commitment must remain undiluted and steadfast.’
ENDS
For comment or interview, contact:
Brian Killoran, UCSF National Coordinator
communications@immigrantcouncil.ie Phone: 01 645 8045
Notes to Editor
The terms of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC - extended until 4 March 2027) state that Member States must provide meaningful access to accommodation and other support. It reiterated that rights on paper which are not realized in reality do not meet the threshold for compliance, and warned that leaving beneficiaries of temporary protection in situations of homelessness or having to leave the state due to lack of accommodation support could well see Ireland as being outside the terms of the directive governing signatories responsibilities.
- About the Ukraine Civil Society Forum
The Ukraine Civil Society Forum is a short-term, responsive initiative convened by Civil Society acting collectively to support the emergency settlement of Ukrainian refugees to Ireland. Comprising 121 organisations across Ireland, the Forum aims to provide national coordination of civil society and community responses, connecting into the State’s emergency response structures.
- About the Immigrant Council
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is the leading national human rights organisation working to defend migrant rights in Ireland. It provides free immigration advice and legal support through its helpline and law centre, as well as campaigning for immigration reform. The Council also provides support to victims of racism and human trafficking and provides opportunities for migrants to connect with each other and their communities. Visit www.immigrantcouncil.ie for more information.