Number of Ukrainians living in Louth increases

The total number of Ukrainian refugees living in Louth under the Temporary Protection Directive now stands at 2542 according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

This compares to a figure of 2386 in June this year.

Nationally, 109,566 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) were given to arrivals from Ukraine by 29th September 2024.

Broken down by area; the figures reveal the Drogheda Urban area has 915 Ukrainians living locally while Dundalk-Carlingford has 674; Dundalk South has 551; Ardee has 234 while Drogheda Rural has 168.

The figures mark an increase in numbers in four out of five areas in Louth compared to February last year.

 Those figures, (for June 2024) were: Drogheda Urban area had 894 Ukrainians living locally while Dundalk-Carlingford had 428; Dundalk South had 671; Ardee had 227 while Drogheda Rural had 166.

Dundalk- Carlingford saw a significant rise in the number of Ukrainian refugees living in the area with the numbers rising from 428 to 674, a rise of 246.

Additionally the CSO report showed that there were 702 hosts in Louth currently in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment and arrivals from Ukraine living in accommodation provided by these hosts.

The figures also reveal that there are currently 228 Ukrainian children enrolled in primary schools in Louth, a decrease of 18; while there are 204 enrolled in secondary schools in the county, no change. 

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Commenting on the release, Dylan Morrissey, Statistician, said: "As of 29 September 2024, 109,566 PPSNs were issued to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) from Ukraine. Of these BoTPs from Ukraine who were given a PPSN, 75% had activity in administrative data after 30 June 2024, based on data currently available to the CSO.

Women and men aged 20 years and over, made up 46% and 24% of arrivals respectively, while 30% were people aged under 20 years.

More than half of the 46,668 BoTPs who attended an Intreo employment support event noted that English language proficiency was a challenge in securing employment.