The cabinet said inspections of vacant properties promised to Ukrainian refugees will be accelerated

Inspections of vacant properties pledged by members of the public for Ukrainian refugees will be speeded up, Cabinet ministers have been told.

The government, through the Red Cross, will direct additional resources to expedite screening of vacant properties that have been voluntarily made available by the public for refugees.

Public Expenditure Secretary Michael McGrath told colleagues last night that the cost of housing 100,000 refugees would be around €2.5 billion.

1,100 people were contacted from over 22,000 accommodation promises.

However, Cabinet ministers were told this morning that the inspection process has been “scaled up” and that inspections must not slow down the commissioning of properties.

Around 22,600 shelters have been pledged through the government’s Red Cross portal, with fewer than 5,000 for vacant homes.

A government source said it is hoped there will be a seven-day period between contacting the person who made the pledge and inspecting the property for vacant homes.

As of last night, 14,611 Ukrainian refugees had entered the country, of whom about 8,000 were being made available in government shelters.

It goes without saying that more and more refugees are looking for government accommodation upon arrival.

Cabinet has also been told that a procurement process is underway for a tent camp at Gormanston in Co Meath.

The state has contracted 2,532 hotel rooms for refugees.