The number of multi-occupancy facilities hosting Ukrainian refugees in Clare has almost halved in the space of two years.
With two hotels having ceased accommodating Ukrainians at the end of March, the number of accommodation centres in the county now stands at 16.
There are currently 831 Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, or BOTPs, living in Clare, according to Clare County Council data.
This is the lowest the number has been since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, and is down almost 84% on the figure for this time last year when 5,061 BOTPs were residing here.
While the breakdown is unclear, this reduction can be attributed to some moving away from Ireland and others entering private accommodation.
The county’s Ukrainian BOTPs are spread across 16 multi-occupancy facilities countywide following the closure of the centres at Bunratty Castle Hotel and Hotel Woodstock in Ennis on March 31st.
By contrast, 34 centres of this nature were in operation in January of 2024.
Roughly 50% of Clare BOTPs live in the Ennistymon Local Electoral Area while 15% are in the Killaloe LEA, 14% are in the Ennis area, 12% are in the Shannon region and 8% are in Kilrush or its surrounds.
Additionally, Clare is hosting 1,012 International Protection Applicants across 11 centres.
45% of these individuals are in North Clare, while Ennis and Shannon are home to the next largest cohorts.
