Asylum seeker numbers rose 53% last year

The number of foreign nationals applying for asylum last year increased 53%, although Ireland still has a comparatively low inflow rate of refugees within the EU.

Official EU figures show Ireland received just 0.3 applications for asylum per 1,000 inhabitants in 2014, compared to the EU average of 1.2.

A total of 1,450 applications for asylum were recorded in the Republic last year, up 505 on 2013 figures.