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The number of people seeking political asylum in Ireland has decreased for the first time in years.
There have been 43 per cent fewer applications for the first six months of 2025 compared to the first six months of 2024, the Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan revealed.
But there are still a staggering 33,822 asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their applications from the International Protection Office. A total of 14,161 of these cases have been refused and are now engaged in the appeal process.
Those appealing the decisions are allowed to remain in Ireland while their cases are dealt with by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.
The International Protection Office delivered 14,000 first decisions last year compared to 8,500 in 2023. The Minister said there will be further growth in the refugee decision making process in 2025 .
Mr O’Callaghan stated: “Accelerated processing was introduced in November 2022 and it now applies to those from designated safe countries of origin, applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe and those from a country with a particularly high number of applications.
“Since the introduction of accelerated processing the number of applicants from these groups has dropped significantly.”
It is understood they relate largely to Georgia, Albania and South Africa.
The Minister said the number of International Protection applications had been rising over the past number of years reaching 18,500 in 2024.
He added: “There have been 43 per cent less applications in the first six months of 2025 compared to the first six months of 2024.
“There are currently 33,822 pending International Protection applications at various points of the International Protection process.”
He also disclosed that the cost of keeping an asylum seeker at international protection accommodation centres including state run premises is now €84 per night. This has increased by €16 on last year when the cost per person was €68 per night.
The Minister was responding to a series of parliamentary questions on the issue from the Monaghan/Cavan Sinn Fein TD Matt Carty.
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