Northern Ireland

Around 10,000 asylum seekers seeking protection in Dublin believed to have passed through north this year

Slow down in numbers presenting in Dublin in June, after UK General Election called

Tents which have been pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal
Tents pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal (Niall Carson/PA)
By John Breslin

Close to 10,000 asylum seekers are believed to have passed through the north since the beginning of the year, new figures reveal.

The numbers seeking international protection in the Republic increased substantially in the early months of the year, peaking at over 2,000 in April, or close to 70 a day, but appear to have dropped in recent weeks.

Most of those seeking asylum did so at the International Protection Office (IPO) in Dublin and not at a port of entry, the Irish Government said.

The increase in numbers this year was linked by some commentators to the Conservative government attempt to ramp up the plan to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda, a policy the new Labour administration has promised to ditch.

In total, as of Monday, 11,797 people had applied for international protection in Ireland, with 10,968 made for the first time at the IPO and not at a port of entry.

The Irish Government believes a significant proportion of that number have entered Ireland over the land border.

The issue of housing asylum seekers has developed into a deeply divisive issue in the south, with sometimes violent protests in various parts of the country, the latest in Coolock in north Dublin over the possibility a disused paint factory might be used to accommodate those applying for international protection.

The Garda Public Order Unit as wheelie bins are set alight by protesters
Members of the Garda Public Order Unit during violence in Coolock, north Dublin, last week (Niall Carson/PA)

More than 90% presented at the IPO, with the Department of Justice previously stating the large majority of those are believed to have crossed the land border.

While the number applying has close to doubled compared to the same six month period last year, there appears to be a slowing in the numbers in recent weeks.

The number seeking protection peaked at over 2,000 in April, dipping slightly in May and dropped again to 1,401 in June.

“It remains the department’s assessment that a significant proportion of these applicants have entered over the land border,” a justice spokesperson told The Irish News.

Claims that the majority of asylum seekers entering Ireland had crossed the border from Northern Ireland have been questioned by human rights and refugee organisations
A large number of asylum seekers have presented in Dublin after crossing the border, according to the Irish Government (Brian Lawless/PA)

“There are a number of circumstances in which someone might apply in the IPO without first applying at a port of entry. They may enter at an airport with valid documentation for example but choose not to apply at that time.

“Or they may apply having been in the State for a period previously, for example on foot of a different permission to remain.

“However, the department’s firm assessment, based on the experience of staff and others working in the field, and based on the material gathered at interviews, is that in most cases those applying for the first time in the IPO have entered over the land border.”