MOVING ON

Exodus as 25,000 Ukrainians leave Ireland after crackdown on payments and free housing as numbers to fall further

Some 41,000 who originally arrived are classed by the Government as ‘category unknown’

• Published: 17:46, 24 May 2024
• Updated: 17:46, 24 May 2024

THE number of Ukrainians living in Ireland has dropped by around 25,000, the latest Government data shows.

Ministers have been told they have either returned home, despite the war with Russia, or moved on to other countries.

Just under 107,000 Ukrainians came here and claimed temporary protection when Vladamir Putin’s army invaded in 2022.

But, as of May 19, 45,000 are in state-serviced accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs.

This number has fallen from 60,000 only last September.

Around 8,000 Ukrainian people currently live in homes pledged and provided by the public. Their rooms are paid for by the State.This means 65,500 are accounted for in state-provided or pledged accommodation.

The remaining 41,000 who originally arrived are classed by the Government as “category unknown”.

These have either returned home, gone to another country or are staying in privately sourced accommodation.A Government insider said: “Essentially the numbers of Ukrainians arriving are well down and all the data shows at least 25,000 appear to have moved on since 2022.”

Ministers expect the numbers to continue falling after the recent crackdown on Government payments and free accommodation for refugees.

Justice Minister Helen Ms McEntee said the reduction in payments was “to bring everybody in line to make sure those who are here, those who have access to work, those who are available to provide for themselves, that they can provide for themselves.

She added: “That’s why these payments are changing.”