The number of people seeking international protection in Ireland accounted for 1.3% of the EU total last year, according to research by the European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland.
More than 13,600 applications for international protection were made last year, a 415% increase from 2021 and a 186% increase from 2019.
The EMN is an EU network that works within the ESRI to conduct research on migration and international protection.
Its latest report has set out how shortages in the labour market, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions increased immigration to Ireland in 2022.
A total of 141,600 people arrived in Ireland in the year leading up to April 2023, which represented a 31% increase from the year to April 2022.
CSO emigration figures also increased, with 64,000 individuals leaving Ireland during the same period, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.
The increase in applications for international protection marked a significant increase from previous years (a 415% increase from 2021 and a 186% increase from 2019, the last comparable year before Covid-19 travel restrictions), and the highest number of asylum applications on record in Ireland.
The top countries of origin among applicants were Georgia (20%), Algeria (13%), Somalia (12%), Nigeria (8%), Zimbabwe (7%) and Afghanistan (6%).
The EMN found that Georgia, a designated safe country of origin in Irish law, accounted for the highest number of applicants (19.9%).
It said that by November 2022, more than 25% of applications came from countries designated as "safe countries of origin".
To respond to this, the EMN has pointed out that the Minister for Justice adopted new regulations in November last year to accelerate the international protection procedure, including the consideration of applicants from safe countries of origin.
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Report author Keire Murphy said the increase is as a result of a really strong economy and labour market shortages.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said: "We're approaching full employment. So, a lot of this is employment related migration and the Russian invasion of Ukraine is, of course, another one.
"So, temporary protection and beneficiaries are part of this story. And part of it is also recovering from Covid-19. So, migration was kind of suppressed for a few years and we're seeing this catch up in the year that's been captured by the statistics".
She explained that about 42,000 of the 141,600 are Ukrainians, and they are beneficiaries of temporary protection, which is a separate system.
In relation to international protection, 2022 saw the highest number recorded in Ireland.
"It's still quite low by EU levels. But it's the highest record in Ireland so far," Ms Murphy said.
The research shows that around 20,000 were returning Irish immigrants, with a similar proportion from the UK.
Ms Murphy said: "But what we are seeing is kind of a shift towards the rest of the world migration."
Significant increase in first-residence permits
In 2022, there was a significant increase in first-residence permits, with 85,793 such permits issued. That was a 146% increase from 2021 and a 45% increase from 2019.
As in previous years, education was the most common reason for permits (48%), followed by 'other reasons' (24%) and employment (23%).
The most common nationality of residence permit holders was Indian (24%), followed by Brazilian (15%) and Chinese (7%).
Last year saw the highest number of employment permits issued in the last ten years, with the information and communication sector surpassing health and social work as the main source of employment.
Research from the ESRI has indicated that the overall increase in international protection applications was likely a result of the end of Covid-19 travel restrictions, instability and conditions in countries of origin, a deflection effect from the UK, and long-term social network effects.
According to Eurostat, which is cited in the EMN report, a total of 4,470 first-instance decisions were made in 2022, of which 80% were positive.
This represents a significant increase in decision making on previous years, and a drop in the rate of positive decisions from the artificially high rate in 2021, following the Department of Justice’s decision to pause the issuing of negative decisions during 2020, throughout 2021 and for the first half of 2022 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Some 3,913 personal interviews were conducted with applicants in 2022, which was over triple the number conducted in 2021.
A total of 2,300 final decisions were made last year on appeal or review. Of these, 59% were positive.
Humanitarian status was the status most-commonly awarded at first instance and in final decisions on appeal or review last year, followed by the Geneva Convention (refugee) status and subsidiary protection status.
The median processing time for all cases processed to completion in the International Protection Office in 2022 was 18 months, down from 23 months in 2021.
Increased pressure on accommodation system
The report has noted the increased pressure on the accommodation system for international protection applicants and those fleeing the war in Ukraine last year.
It says in 2022, 61 new centres were opened, as well as one site for tented accommodation and the transit hub in the Citywest Convention Centre in order to deal with the demand.
In March 2022, the Government approved participation in the EU Regulation that established the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
The AMIF is an EU fund that aims to build migration management capacity and procedures for migration management.
The current round of the fund runs 2021-2027 and has a total value of €9.88 billion.
Ireland’s national programme for the AMIF was drafted following consultations with relevant stakeholders in the State, including non-governmental organisations, as well as with the European Commission.
Under Ireland’s national programme, it is intended to provide a range of supports for refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Ireland; to delegate and oversee activities via awards to specialised bodies; and to fund the management of returns of third-country nationals to their country of origin, where appropriate.
The range of supports planned for refugees and asylum seekers ranges from information and assistance with basic needs to specialist supports in areas such as medical/psychosocial and legal assistance.
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Yesterday, the Cabinet heard that a severe shortage of accommodation for those seeking asylum here must be addressed before the end of the week.
"In recent months, it has become increasingly challenging to open new accommodation for those seeking International Protection, particularly male applicants," a spokesperson for Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman said.
"As a result of this, the Department is facing the real possibility of a shortfall in accommodation in the coming days. Officials are continuing to work at maximising the use of available accommodation," they added.
The problem is "more acute" than was thought, said Irish Refugee Council Chief Executive Nick Henderson.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said while it is never appropriate for anyone to ever sleep rough, the violence in Dublin last week makes it even more dangerous than before, adding that two IPAS centres were targeted during last Thursday's rioting.
"Considering what happened last week in Dublin... and the anti-immigration element involved, we say that it would be completely inappropriate and indeed a risk to people's safety if they did have to sleep rough again," he said.
Mr Henderson said other Government departments need to be involved.
"The Department of Children have led on this issue for the last 18 months and in our opinion, other Government departments need to begin playing their part.
"It's completely unacceptable that .. with the wealth and resources of Ireland, it cannot accommodate what is an increase in the number of people seeking protection over the last 18 months... what we believe is a very manageable number," he said.
