Response to Ukrainian crisis must be open to change

Ireland generally, and Kerry in particular, have been enormously welcoming and generous to the estimated 126,000 Ukrainian refugees who came to this country after Vladimir Putin’s murderous invasion in March 2022.

After more than four years of brutal conflict, over 80,000 Ukrainians continue to seek shelter here, with at least 6,500 of them in Kerry.

There is no disputing the courage and commitment of the people of Ukraine in standing up to the terrorist Russian dictator. The people of Europe, including us Irish, will be eternally grateful to the resolve of the Ukrainian nation, for the sacrifice and loss they have endured in a war not of their making.

So unlike the way Ireland turned its back on Jewish people fleeing Nazi persecution and certain death during in the lead-up to and during World War II, on this occasion Ireland played its full and proper role assisting victims of unwarranted assault and mass murder by Putin’s army in Ukraine.

We’ve opened our arms and our pockets – the latter to the tune of several billion euro. Since the flood of refugees began at the start of the war, it’s estimated that the cost of accommodating so many deserving refugees in Ireland has been more than €5 billion.

Despite the enormity of that expenditure (equivalent to at least TWO children’s hospitals), most people will agree it had to be done.

Nevertheless, it’s understandable that the government – on our behalf – would scrutinise every single euro spent in this worthy area for value and also to consider ways to reduce the cost.

It’s worth recalling that in 2024 just under €1.17 billion was spent on accommodating Ukrainian refugees. This dropped to €719m last year and is expected to come in at about €600m this year.

These reductions result from thousands of Ukrainians returning home, if not their native places, at least to safer parts of that vast country.

Reductions also flow from the sheer determination and enterprise of Ukrainian refugees who have stayed here. 

Thousands have managed to rebuild their lives, have found employment and are making their own accommodation arrangements.

That’s a measure of the kind of people they are.

This week the Government announced a gradual withdrawal of accommodation supports for Ukrainians who arrived into Ireland before March 2024.

Considering the vast amount of money involved, coupled with the manifest determination of many Ukrainians to make their own arrangements after so many years of war, such re-structuring of the State’s position on accommodation is inevitable.

It should not be regarded as mean-spirited, rather a recognition that as time passes and people have had the opportunity to rebuild their lives, supports that were appropriate in the first flash of crisis may no longer be justified.

Ireland must continue to back Ukraine in every way possible, including supporting the Ukrainian government and State apparatus financially, as is currently happening.

We have been generous and welcoming. Such generosity must continue, but be susceptible to change.

Nothing stays the same forever.