This comes in the wake of criticism surrounding a dropped plan to put migrants in a specially constructed student housing facility in Co. Sligo.

Local politicians opposed the idea, and there was a conflict between the Department of Integration and the Department of Further and Higher Education as a result.

Both departments have now agreed to a guideline that specifically designed student housing won't be taken into consideration to accommodate Ukrainian refugees or asylum seekers if it is now in use or if it was used within the last 12 months.

Additionally, it has been agreed that any student housing that was temporarily used for refugee housing during the summer would be given back over to students later this month or at the beginning of September.

In 22 institutions, 5,000 student beds are being utilised to house refugees this summer.

Simon Harris, Minister of Further and Higher Education, stated that while colleges are willing to help with the humanitarian situation, it is crucial that the housing be given back to the students for the academic year.

“It is crucial that housing created specifically for students be used for that purpose. When this wasn't the case in Sligo, I was really worried,” he added.

The great bulk of the student housing that was used during the summer to house refugees will be put back to use for students again in late August or early September, according to Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman.