CSO’s language guide will ensure refugees are included in census

THOUSANDS of people fleeing here from Ukraine will be included in this year’s Census, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.

The Central Statistics Office confirmed it has printed additional forms and has enough left-over questionnaires to be able to record the refugees’ details in the survey, which takes place on Sunday, April 3.

Last night it said all Ukrainian refugees in the country on that date will be included in the survey which records the country’s population and is also used to pinpoint where additional services such as schools, transport and housing, should be provided.

According to the most up-to-date figures from the Department of Justice, more than 12,057 Ukrainian refugees have arrived here since the war started on February 24.

According to the Department of Children and Equality, half of these are staying in official centres managed by the State.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Irish people have offered to provide lodgings in their homes for those fleeing the war.

A CSO spokeswoman told the MoS: ‘Our priority is to ensure we make this process as easy and as straightforward as possible.

‘A Ukrainian language Census 2022 guide had already been produced in preparation for this year’s census.

‘We have now printed additional copies to have supply available to provide people. We are liaising with the various Government agencies to ensure we know where people are located and can deliver a census form.

Meanwhile, Government departments have been struggling to deal with the sheer numbers of refugees arriving here since the Russian invasion.

A spokesperson for Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s department said of those who had come to Ireland in recent weeks, two-thirds were women and one third were children under the age of 18.