Stradbally in Co Laois is to swap Electric Picnic revellers for refugees from tomorrow following the conclusion of the music festival.
The Department of Integration has signed a six-week contract for use of a site from September 5th.
The site has a capacity to hold 750 people, which the Government has said will be used on a "phased, contingency basis".
"The accommodation at the site is for very short-term use and efforts will be made to secure short-term accommodation, from the existing departmental portfolio, for those who will be placed there," the Department of Integration has said.
People will start to move to the site from Tuesday, with full occupancy of 750 people expected by Thursday.
An aerial view of the Electric Picnic festival site at Stradbally, County Laois in August 2023. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock PhotoIn a statement, the department said is providing State-sourced accommodation to over 92,400 people seeking refuge in Ireland, "and that number continues to increase".
This consists of 69,518 people who have fled the war in Ukraine and 22,700 people seeking international protection.
The summer months have seen an increase in the number of arrivals from Ukraine, with more than 10,000 people fleeing here since May 1st - an average of around 650 people per week.
It is estimated that up to 500 people could arrive from Ukraine over the next weeks.
The Government has said while almost 7,000 additional beds have been contracted in this time, there remains a "significant shortfall" in accommodation for those fleeing Ukraine.
"While it has been possible to source accommodation from the tourism sector up to now, that sector is at capacity, and very few new offers are being made to the department," it said.
The Department of Integration has said a "small number" of new arrivals have already been placed in tents, and this will increase as new locations for tented facilities come on stream.
"Vulnerable arrivals will be prioritised for any non-tented accommodation available," it added.
