Department of Justice officials at Dublin Airport have already welcomed 269 Ukraine nationals to Ireland since the Russian invasion began just a week ago.
And the number is growing every day as ordinary civilians fleeing the warzone manage to get flights from neighbouring countries like Moldova and Romania to Dublin.
The Department of Justice is operating a special visa waiver system to help make it easier for those escaping the Russian invasion.
Since last Friday when the attacks of Vladimir Putin began, the numbers arriving daily have grown from 8, to 14, to 70, to 84 and to 92 by Tuesday at 6pm, the latest data from the department reveals.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg as there are estimated to be over 800,000 refugees having left Ukraine already hoping to find sanctuary in the EU.
A spokesman for Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, said: “The Department of Justice staff based at the Border Management Unit at Dublin Airport have been manually recording the number of Ukrainian nationals entering the State since the visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals were removed.
“It should be noted that the Department does not hold any data in relation to other ports of entry, and as this data is not routinely recorded, there is no historical data available for comparison purposes.”
He added: “The immediate lifting of visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland announced by Minister McEntee last week will allow Ukrainian people who want to seek safety here to do so as quickly and easily as possible.
“Minister McEntee is meeting with her fellow Justice and Home Affairs Ministers tomorrow to discuss proposals to activate the Temporary Protection Directive, an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression.
“Further details on this emergency provision will be made available as soon as they are agreed.
“In the meantime, Ukrainians arriving in Ireland are being given a 90 day permission to enter the state, this will allow entry while appropriate support and protection measures are put in place.
“Many of those arriving from Ukraine are opting to stay with family and friends but any people arriving that are not in a position to support themselves are being provided with state supports.”
