The Housing Minister says properties like old convents, commercial buildings and vacant hotels could be used to house people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Minister Darragh O'Brien has confirmed that a potential cap on the number of refugees arriving here is 'off the table', while payments for those who host them is under consideration.
A memo will also be brought to Cabinet tomorrow to change the Fair Deal scheme so that the empty houses of those living in nursing homes won't be subject to tax if they're rented out.
Minister O'Brien says an assessment of larger vacant properties which could be refurbished will also be completed by the end of this week;
"Already through the local authorities over two weeks ago I sought that they do a trawl of the whole country in relation to larger properties, old convents, hotels, commercial buildings, that can be converted."
He says over 500 properties have been assessed.
War crimes
Meanwhile, Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland may be interviewed to gather evidence as part of investigations into Russian war crimes.
It will be based on a similar initiative in Germany and involve refugees who've settled here being given a specialist questionnaire.
The International Criminal Court is currently looking into potential war crimes by Russia.
22,000 people fleeing the war have arrived in Ireland so far.
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