The next Census will be recorded on Sunday, April 10th with the decline in the number of Polish migrants living in the State likely to be one of its most prominent ethnic-related features.
On Census night 2006, Waterford city was home to 5,249 non-Irish, which accounted for 9.9 per cent of the city’s official population of 45,109.
County Waterford’s total population of 61,271 included 4,848 non-Irish, meaning the combined migrant population of Waterford according to Census 2006 stood at 10,097.
“One of the offshoots of the recession has been the return of many migrants to their native countries, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe” said a local business figure.
“The number of Polish people in and around Waterford city appears to have declined, while many Czech and Slovak nationals have also returned home, so I’d imagine that will be one of the key findings to emerge from the next Census.”
