Number of applications for refugee status drops by a dramatic 30%

THERE were 2,689 applications for refugee status received by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) last year — a 30% decrease on 2008 figures.

Refugee Applications Commissioner, David Costello said last year’s fall in applications was in contrast with an increase recorded in other EU countries.

The ORAC’s ninth annual report also shows applications received last year averaged 224 per month — the lowest annual total since 1997.

The independent body, established under the 1996 Refugee Act, makes recommendations to the Minister for Justice and Law Reform on whether refugee status should be granted.

The top six applicant countries last year were Nigeria (21.2%), Pakistan (9.6%), China (7.2%), Democratic Republic of Congo (3.8%), Zimbabwe 3.4% and Georgia (3.3%).

In 2008 the top six were Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Georgia, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There were 450 applications for family reunification received from the Minister for Justice for investigation last year, an increase of 10% over 2008 figures.

A total of 723 asylum applications were withdrawn from the process for a number of reasons, including applicants failing to co-operate or attend an interview.

There were 56 applications received from unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, a substantial reduction compared with 2003 when 271 were received.

The office sent 2,395 sets of fingerprints of asylum applicants to be processed by the European Union-wide electronic system for identifying asylum seekers.

There were 295 hits that indicated that applicants had already sought refugee status in other contracting states.

Under the Dublin II regulation, asylum seekers are obliged to apply for asylum in the country of first entry point in the EU.

At the end of the year, there were 470 cases awaiting processing in the office, with 87 cases outstanding for more than three months.