County Kerry is set to get the second largest portion of funding under a new scheme aimed at welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.

Announced this week by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups are set to benefit from the funding.

A total of €50 million has been allocated under the Community Recognition Fund with every local authority in the country set to receive funds from the scheme.

The money will be divided based on the number of new arrivals located in each local authority area with Kerry County Council to get €4,403,073 under the scheme - the highest figure allocated to any individual county council.

The second highest local authority on the funding list is Donegal County Council which is set to get €3,114,395.

“The people of Kerry have opened their hearts and homes to those forced to flee the war in Ukraine," TD Norma Foley said.

"This funding initiative is designed to specifically support those communities who have welcomed and are hosting families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries.

“This funding stream is specifically designed to recognise the vital role our communities are playing in response to this illegal and unjust war, and will support, enhance and improve facilities that are open to the wider community."

When the allocations earmarked for all four Dublin councils (Dublin City Council - €2,392,127; Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - €707,864, South Dublin County Council - €2,754,305m and Fingal County Council - €1,813,912) are added together, it totals €7,668,208.

Refugee influx paused

Meanwhile the Government has paused new arrivals of people seeking International Protection (IP) into Ireland due a severe shortage of accommodation.

Latest figures by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth say that more than 1,500 people have arrived in Ireland in the first two weeks of the year.

To date, Ireland has accommodated more than 74,000 people who have fled here, between International Protection (IP) applicants and those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Government was providing temporary accommodation at a Transit Hub at Citywest, Dublin.

“Due to the nationwide shortage of available accommodation for IP applicants, particularly single males, the Transit Hub has been providing emergency shelter while applicants wait to be assigned to accommodation. It is no longer possible to provide emergency shelter to IP adults as the Transit Hub has now reached capacity,” a department statement said.

This decision will not affect those fleeing the war in Ukraine.