Germany has used sports venues to house refugees ©Getty Images

Human rights groups in Ireland have raised concerns as sports officials at the Irish Gaelic Sports Association, the Irish Rugby Union and Sport Ireland were asked to try to find more places to accommodate Ukrainian refugees.

The Nasc Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre in Cork has highlighted its concerns.

"Accommodating people in these sporting venues, that are clearly not designed for accommodation, must be a measure of last resort," Nasc chief executive Fiona Hurley told Irish television station RTE.

"We are talking here about a population of predominantly women, children and vulnerable adults who are escaping war and it is very difficult to ensure that there are correct safeguarding procedures in venues like these."

Irish refugee support group Nasc has registered concern over the use of sport venues ©NASC
Irish refugee support group Nasc has registered concern over the use of sport venues ©NASC

"Clearly there has been unprecedented pressure on the Government over the last six months," Hurley admitted.

Hurley also noted that many refugees had been traumatised by their experiences.

"It is really important that we have children in a stable environment," she insisted.

Her concerns echo those voiced by German groups when refugees were housed in sports facilities earlier in the year.

Jewish sports groups in the Polish city of Krakow have helped refugees from Ukraine ©Getty Images
Jewish sports groups in the Polish city of Krakow have helped refugees from Ukraine ©Getty Images

Some 3,500 refugees have been staying in student accommodation, but will have to move when the new academic terms begin in a few weeks.

They had also been housed in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, used for international rugby, but have now been moved to alternative accommodation.

The Irish Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. had been asked to provide short term accommodation by the Irish Department of Children.

"The organisations responded positively to the request and any accommodation offers arising were the subject of direct engagement by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with the sports organisations," the department said.

Forty-three thousand Ukrainian refugees have already arrived in Ireland - a figure which is expected to increase, while the number is expected to exceed 50,000 within a fortnight.