Number of asylum applications slips 40%

The threat of deportation is deterring more and more refugees from seeking asylum in Ireland, it was claimed today.

With applications during 2004 down by 40% on the previous 12 months the Irish Refugee Council said a raft of open and public deterrents led to a drop in the numbers landing on Irish shores.

Figures from the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner revealed 4,766 applications for asylum were received last year, a drop of 40% from the 7,900 applications in 2003.

ORAC granted 237 people refugee status in the first three months of the year, while 1,259 new asylum applications have been lodged in the same period.

Of the 237 people granted refugee status up until March 31, 2005, 94 were accepted on the first attempt while the other 143 were granted after an appeal.

The figures also noted the top five countries of origin for asylum seekers in 2004. Nigeria was highest at 1,776, followed by Romania at 286, Somalia at 198, China 152 and Sudan 145.

This compares to 2003 which saw 7,900 applications, 3,110 from Nigerians, 777 from Romanians, 256 from the Congo, 243 from Moldova and 186 from the Czech Republic.

A total of 599 deportations were carried out in 2004 and since 1999 there have been 2,268 deportations from Ireland.

A further 611 people left the State on their own accord taking the number of people to have left to 2,520 over the last five and a half years.