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25 Nov 2025
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25 Nov 2025
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Ukrainians in Laois protest for peace in Portlaoise.
The number of Ukrainians who have found refuge in Laois from Russia's war on their homeland has risen in the second half of 2025 after dropping in the first half of the year.
The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published on November 19 contain data on the number of refugees from the Eastern European country living in Ireland to the start of November this year.
With peace talks are underway, the figures show that there are 1,302 mainly women and children residing in the Midlands county. That is marginally up on the 1,294 Ukraians in Laois to 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, 467, have found accommodation in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. The Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick district is home to 453 refugees, while the Portlaoise district has taken in 382 people.
The CSO has published the latest data on the number of people seeking refuge in Ireland in the 17th edition of its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series.
The number of children from Ukraine in Laois schools has fallen slightly compared with the summer of 2025. Of the children now here, 201 are in primary school and 143 are in secondary school.
Despite cuts, the number of hosts currently in receipt of the Accommodation Recognition Payment and for Ukrainians living in accommodation provided by these hosts has risen to 700 from 619 during the summer.
As of 03 November 2025, 52,357 arrivals had attended an employment support event arranged by Intreo Public Employment Services. Of those, 53% (or 27,786 people) noted that English language proficiency was a challenge in securing employment.
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Of the 52,357 arrivals that attended an Intreo event, 23,157 had recorded previous occupations, with Professionals being the largest group at 30% (or 6,897 people). Of the 32,856 people where the highest level of education was recorded, 59% had achieved a qualification equivalent to NFQ level 7 or higher.
There were 12,203 arrivals enrolled in further education and training courses on 01 November 2025, of which 8,072 were enrolled in further education English language courses.
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