The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that since March 2022, over 107,000 Unique Identifier Codes for Public Services, otherwise known as PPSN, were distributed to Ukrainians arriving in the nation. This unique reference number is essential for employment, taxation, and interactions with public departments.
The CSO’s most recent report on the influx of Ukrainians into Ireland, unveiled on Monday, disclosed that around 76% of the recent arrivals have a record of activity tethered to their PPSN, encompassing aspects like housing, welfare benefits, tax, education, and training courses. A quarter, in contrast, had no information linked to their allocated unique reference number which suggests they might have departed the nation, as stated by the CSO.
The report further indicates that of the arrivals, people aged 20-years and above constituted 46% of the male and 23% of the female population. Thirty per cent were individuals below the age of 20. Regarding the adult arrivals aged 18 and above, 62% of men and 48% of women were either wedded or living together.
In a Intreo-hosted employment and training event, 44,214 participants were present, out of which 58%, amounting to 25,532 individuals, identified their English language proficiency as a roadblock to securing jobs. Amongst 29,646 participants with a recorded education level, about 61% were holders of a national qualification recognised globally, equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree or more.
As of June 1st, the CSO noted a total of 17,808 arrivals participating in further training and education programmes, with 15,283 involved in English language courses specifically.
Laura Carter, a statistician at the CSO, specified that the data incorporated 76% of the population that arrived from Ukraine, with the remaining 24%’s data unobtainable, hinting at possible departure from the country.
Additionally, Carter pointed out that the CSO had created two cartographic distributions of the Ukrainian arrivals across Ireland. One was a tally by local electoral districts while the other was by the rate of arrivals. Among all, Kenmare in Co Kerry recorded the highest number of Ukrainian inhabitants with 2,844 arrivals.
The locals’ arrival rate relative to the population of their electoral districts varied from 0.28% to 12.38%, which was recorded in Ennistimon, Co Clare.