Most voters believe Ukrainian refugees need clarity on future in ...
Most Irish people support giving Ukrainian refugees clarity on their future in Ireland, two years after the country’s invasion by Russian forces and ahead of this year’s general election, according to a poll.
Ukrainian refugees have been granted temporary status and offered direct provision since 2022 in Ireland and now face uncertainty in their future’s with a new government set to be voted in next week.
However, the Government has changed rules around the provision of accommodation and social welfare supports, significantly reducing the level of supports available to Ukrainians in recent months, as authorities also struggle to find accommodation for everyone who needs it amid the housing crisis.
In a poll of 1,000 people carried out last week, 80pc of Irish voters said Ukrainians should be given clarity on their future in the country.
The poll was carried out by polling company Ireland Thinks, for the Ukraine Civil Society Forum, which is part of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
A total of 74pc of respondents believed that politicians should stand up to racism and intimidation against refugees while 69pc agreed that the government needs to include refugees in the national strategy on housing and have a new approach to providing working visas in order to address a shortage of workers.
National coordinator of the Ukraine Civil Society Forum, Emma Lane Spollen, called on the next government to lay out a plan and options for Ukrainians futures in Ireland.
“This poll also showed that the public recognise the need for immigration to support the economy, from construction of new houses to healthcare and crucially, that the Government should plan for the accommodation needs of refugees within our national housing strategy,” she said.
“We are delighted to see that the Irish public believe that politicians must take a firm stance against racism and intimidation of refugees.
“Ireland’s offer of sanctuary has been genuine and deeply felt. Everybody stepped up and did what we had to do. It was the right thing to do. It still is. But we must plan ahead.”
There are around 110,000 Ukrainian refugees in Ireland, up 16pc on the same time last year.
As of November 2024, 22,943 Ukrainian people are employed in Ireland, 17,562 Ukrainian children are currently enrolled in the Irish school system and, a total of 32,812 people are currently accommodated in short-term accommodation across the country, with others accommodated in other settings.
The Ukraine Civil Society Forum has brought forward recommendations for a new Government which include intensive language tuition to bring asylum seekers to fluency and allow them to join the workforce easily, to approach the issue with more empathy and compassion and reset a long-term accommodation strategy.
