1,117 asylum seekers refused entry this year

A TOTAL of 1,117 people were refused entry to Ireland in the first three months of this year.

In the same period 237 persons were granted refugee status, according to figures just released.

A total of 1,259 new asylum applications were received by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC).

The top five countries of origin of new asylum applicants to date this year are: Nigeria (557); Somalia (88); Romania (77); Afghanistan (57) and Sudan (32).

Under the direct provision system, introduced in April 2000, asylum seekers are housed in shared, hostel-type accommodation centres across the country.

In Ireland, asylum seekers are not allowed by the state to take up paid work.

Ireland and Denmark, uniquely, have opted out of this year’s EU-wide ‘Reception Directive’ which includes proposals granting limited access to employment to asylum seekers in the asylum process.

At the end of March 2005, there were 7,280 asylum seekers in 68 direct provision centres (four reception and 64 accommodation centres) of whom 1,678 asylum seekers (21%) had been residing in direct provision for over two years.

A quarter (2,094) of those living in direct provision centres are under the age of four years.

Asylum seekers with children who arrived in the country after May 1, 2004, do not receive child benefit.

Ireland received a total of 4,770 asylum applications in 2004.