Fewer in asylum seeker centres

The number of asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation decreased by almost 6% last year.

Figures provided by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) show 4,425 people, including 708 families, were living in the State’s 33 direct provision centres around the country at the end of 2016 — 271 fewer than in 2015.

However, the cost of accommodating asylum seekers last year still rose by 12.4% to almost €64.2m.