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03 Apr 2026
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03 Apr 2026
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Ukrainians in Laois protest for peace at SS Peter & Paul's Church in Portlaoise.
The number of people who have fled the war in Ukraine and found refuge in Laois has risen by just 65% in the past 12 months according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO has published the latest data on the number of people seeking refuge in Ireland in the 12th edition of its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series.
The report published on February 20 shows that there were 1,441 arrivals from Ukraine into Laois by February 4 this year. That's up 65% on the CSO published 873 arrivals into the county as of February 12, 2023.
The most notable increase is in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District where a transition accommodation hub is in operation in Stradbally. A total of 320 people were living in the east Laois district in February last year. That is up by 80% to 576 over the last 12 months according to CSO figures.
The Port/Graigue district is also home to more refugees than the other two Laois Municipal Districts. The current figure for the district is up just 6% since last October.
Tented accommodation for Ukrainians was set up in the town on the Cosby estate in Stradbally after the Electric Picnic ended last September. This has since been replaced with temporary structures that can accommodate up to 950 people at any one time while alternative places to live are located.
There are now 401 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) in the Portlaoise Municipal District. It also takes in Abbeyleix and stretches to the Kilkenny border. There were 553 residing in the Portlaoise Municipal District when numbers were last recorded in October 2023.
The Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District is the biggest in Laois as it stretches from the Offaly border to the boundaries with Tipperary and Kilkenny. Ukrainian numbers there have doubled in the past year. There were 401 refugees from the Russian invasion in the district this February compared to 216 people last February.
Rathdowney is in the Borris district. A new modular housing estate for Ukrainian refugees to accommodate 168 people was completed in late 2023.
The number of children from Ukraine has risen to 343 from 283 last February. Of the children now here, 217 are in primary school and 126 are in secondary school.
The figures also show that there are now 356 people living in the homes of Laois people who receive the Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting Ukrainians. That's up from 139 in February this year.
Laois County Council said in January that is looking for more accommodation in Laois.
"The council continues to assist the Department with the temporary accommodation of Ukrainian arrivals to our county, as well as providing liaison locally in relation to vacant buildings and sites suitable for medium to long-term accommodation solutions," said a report in the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
They add that a new council Integration Support Service began in January at Treo Nua in Portlaoise, to support all newly arrived refugees with aspects of their integration including linking them in with mainstream support services, independent living and social inclusion.
The Council's CE John Mulholland told councillors that Ireland must take a new phase of Ukraine refugees, starting later in 2024 which could last for another 18 months.
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