Overall immigration numbers drop, but asylum applications are up 40pc, ESRI finds

"An analysis of migration by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) also found that "significant capacity pressures persisted in 2024", in particular in the international protection processing and accommodation system. The report also highlights how 48 people were victims of human trafficking last year for the purpose of sexual exploitation, while the inability to accommodate asylum applicants "worsened", with 6,000 applicants not offered accommodation on arrival."

"The report found a 16pc drop in immigration up to April this year compared with the previous year, with an estimated 125,300 people arriving in Ireland during that period. "This decrease likely reflects the decreased number of arrivals from Ukraine in the year to April 2025," it said. In March last year, Ireland changed benefits for Ukrainians, which included limiting state accommodation to 90 days for new arrivals and reducing weekly payments."

"The ESRI found that applications for international protection increased by 40pc compared to the previous year. It said the International Protection Office (IPO) "significantly scaled up decision making", with a 56pc increase in decisions made year on year. "Nonetheless, the 2024 median processing time for completed IPO cases was 16 months," it added. Of more than 13,000 decisions made, 70pc were refusals, with some of those overturned on appeal. The report also found that there was a "significant backlog" of appeals last year."

Immigration to Ireland fell 16% up to April, with an estimated 125,300 people arriving, largely due to fewer arrivals from Ukraine. Emigration decreased 6.2% to about 65,600 departures. Applications for international protection rose 40%, while the International Protection Office increased decisions by 56% but median processing time remained 16 months. Over 13,000 decisions produced a 70% refusal rate and a significant backlog of appeals. Accommodation capacity remained under pressure; 6,000 asylum applicants were not offered accommodation on arrival. Forty-eight people were identified as victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The State published a strategy to scale up accommodation and opted into seven EU Pact measures.

Read at Irish Independent