Drop in number of Ukrainian people residing in Mayo highlighted

The number of Ukrainian refugees living in Mayo has fallen in recent months, according to figures presented to Mayo County Council’s Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) on Community Integration and Recreation.

Head of Integration Anna Connor outlined that 3,807 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP) are currently in Mayo, down from higher levels after the initial outbreak of war.

Only 920 Ukrainians remain residing in BOTP centres across Mayo.

Nationally, 21,760 Ukrainians are in accommodation here, with Mayo ranked seventh in the country.

Councillor Michael Loftus sought clarification on the figures and asked whether the figure is increasing or not.

Ms, Connor responded that Mayo’s numbers have, in fact, reduced.

“We are seventh overall, and it does seem that people are going home. Some are returning due to bereavements, some for other reasons.

"There’s definitely movement, though we can’t always account for every case. We don’t know the full ins and outs,” she explained.

Further figures showed that Mayo currently has 1,742 residents in 14 IPAS centres, including 666 children, with 344 individuals in IPAS accommodation holding official status.

Nationally, there are 32,548 in IPAS centres, of which 5,008 have status.

Alongside the figures, Ms Connor highlighted a range of integration initiatives underway in the county, including the Achill community tourism plan, which provided Level 4 hospitality training for Ukrainians, and such was the success that there are now plans to replicate the scheme nationally.