Minister says new legislation for asylum seekers ‘a priority’

The cost of meeting judicial reviews taken by asylum seekers and other legal costs totalled €5.8 million last year — and was paid by the State’s Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).

In a written Dáil response, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, confirmed that according to the latest figures, there are 900 judicial reviews by asylum seekers currently in direct provision accommodation, in the system.

There are currently 4,353 asylum seekers in 34 centres across the State under contract to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), with 727 new entrants to the direct provision system last year. Between 2005 and 2013, the RIA has spent €690m on the direct provision system.