The government has lifted a restriction that prevented care homes from being repurposed for refugee housing.
However, under the new rules, the properties will have to wait two years before they can be used for people applying for international protection or people fleeing the war in Ukraine, reports RTE.
Currently, if a care home decides to close, it must notify residents and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) six months in advance of the intention to close.
Once closed, they must wait another 18 months for a cooling off period before they can be used to house refugees, reports RTE.
In recent months, the government has noted a tendency to close the houses to renovate them for refugee shelters.
During the review, ministers ruled that a care home would not be an option as a place to house refugees, amid concerns that moving out of care homes could compound current problems in the sector, reports RTE.
In a letter first reported by the Irish Independent, Secretary of State Mary Butler, who is responsible for older people, wrote to Integrations Secretary Roderic O’Gorman to tell him that former care homes could now take refugees.
However, the nursing homes can only do this 18 months after the six-month notice period has expired, or effectively after two years, reports RTE.
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