Ukrainian refugee arrivals in Laois on the rise

The rising trend of Ukrainians in Laois who have fled Vladimir Putin's war on their homeland has risen for second quarter.

New Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show a rise in the numbers seeking Ireland's protection as the Russian attacks on Ukraine intensified over the winter. 

The rising number of arrivals to Laois continues a trend that began halfway through 2025 and was evidenced in figures produced last November.

The latest figures from the CSO provided to the Leinster Express / Laois Live on February 18 contains data on the number of refugees from the Eastern European country living in Ireland and Laois to the start of February this year.

It shows that there were 1,368 Ukrainian war refugees in Laois as of February 3, 2026. That is a small rise of over 60 on the 1,302 mainly women and children residing in the Midlands county last November when the figures were last counted. It is also greater than the 1,294 Ukrainians in Laois in July 2025.

The latest figures mark a reversal in a trend that emerged at the start of 2025 when the CSO reported a drop of more than 20% in the total number living in Laois. There were 1,660 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine living in Laois when the numbers were published in February 2025.  

The biggest number of Ukrainians, 487, have found accommodation in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. The Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick district is home to 484 refugees, while the Portlaoise district has taken in 397 people. All three Municipal Districts have experienced an increase on last November. 

The CSO has published the latest data on the number of people seeking refuge in Ireland in the 18th edition of its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series since February 2022.

The number of school-aged children from Ukraine in Laois schools is up slightly compared with last November. There are 205 are in primary school and 141 are in secondary school.

Despite cuts to payments, the number of hosts in receipt of the Accommodation Recognition Payment and for Ukrainians living in accommodation provided in homes has risen from 728 to 700. It was 619 last summer.

As of February 3, a total of 121,048 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) issued to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) from Ukraine were recorded by the CSO. 

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Dylan Morrissey, CSO Statistician, commented on the national situation. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

"As of 03 February 2026, 84,100, or 69% of the 121,048 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) issued to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTPs) from Ukraine had recent activity in administrative data after 30 November 2025, based on data currently available to the CSO.

"Of the 84,100 individuals, women and men aged 20 years and over, made up 45% and 28% of arrivals respectively, while 27% were people aged under 20 years.

"In January 2026, 29,060 BoTPs had earnings from employment, where their mean weekly earnings were €540. The most common sector of employment was in Wholesale, Transport & Accommodation at 42%.

"More than half of the 53,996 BoTPs who attended an Intreo employment support event noted that English language proficiency was a challenge in securing employment. Of the 12,037 arrivals enrolled in further education and training courses with Solas on 01 February 2026, 8,098 were enrolled in further education English language courses," he said.

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The CSO created the Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland series to provide insights into Ireland’s response to the Ukrainian crisis in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.