1,000 Ukrainians in Laois which has welcomed a relatively small number of refugees

There are now a total of 1,000 Ukrainian people in Laois with most of those here living in the east of the county, however, Laois has fewer refugees than any of its neighbouring counties except Offaly.

The findings are part of the Central Statistics Office recently published the figures contained its 10th report in its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series.

It shows that the number of arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland based on PPSN allocations as of 6 June 2023 had risen to exactly 1,000 since Russia invaded in 2022. The latest official figures, which were published on June 13, also reveal a 14% rise in the number who had found refuge in Laois to February this year when the figures were last published. There were 873 people in the county up to February 12.

Of the total, 368 are residing in the Portlaoise Municipal District. This takes in Abbeyleix and Ballinakill and stretches to the Kilkenny border. There were 337 in the district up to February 2023. 

The Portarlington - Graiguecullen Municipal District is home now home to the largest number of Ukrainians in the county. There were 320 war refugees in the county in February but now there are 408 in the district which stretches from the Offaly border, along the Kildare boundary to Carlow and Kilkenny. 

The Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District is the biggest district in Laois as it stretches from the Offaly border to the boundaries with Tipperary and Kilkenny. However, it has just one large town. There are now 227 people from Ukraine in the district compared with 216 people living there in February.

The number of children from Ukraine has risen from 210 in February to 225 this summer. Of these, 136 are in primary school and 89 in secondary school.

The figures also show that there are now 225 people in Laois in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting Ukrainians which is up from 139 in February last year

Laois has fewer refugees than nearly all its neighbour counties.

Carlow is accommodating 1,315 Ukrainians. Kilkenny has 1,501 people who have fled the war. There are 1,521 refugees in Tipperary. There were 1,338 people living in Kildare.

Offaly is the only county that borders Laois with fewer Ukrainians where there are 973 living.

Nationally, the CSO says that as of the week ending June 6, 2023 a total of 84,613 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) have been to arrivals from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive since early 2022.

Women and men, aged 20 and over, made up 46% and 22% respectively of arrivals to date, while 32% were people aged under 20. Of all arrivals to date aged 18 and over, 62% of males and 47% of females were married or cohabiting.

There were 16,504 arrivals enrolled in further education and training courses on 01 June 2023, of which 14,630 enrolled in further education English language courses.

Laois children raise vital funds for Portlaoise hospital through Lemonade

As of 06 June 2023, 32,756 arrivals had attended an employment support event arranged by Intreo Public Employment Services. Of those, 64% (or 20,996 persons) noted that English language proficiency was a challenge in securing employment.

Of the 32,756 arrivals that attended an Intreo event, 15,811 had recorded previous occupations, with Professionals being the largest group at 31% (or 4,928 persons).

Killarney in Co Kerry had the highest number of associated arrivals from Ukraine at 2,302. The Local Electoral Area with the highest rate of refugees was Ennistimon in Co Clare.