Pilot project to see civilians take over immigration officer roles

Gardaí working as immigration officers are to be replaced by civilians in a new pilot project to be launched at Dublin Airport this month.

New figures from the Department of Justice indicate that year on year the number of asylum applications dropped by around a third from 2010 to 2011.

At its peak 10 years ago, over 11,500 people sought asylum in Ireland, while last year the figure had dropped to 1,250.

However around 4,000 people were deported from the State last year; mostly from Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan, Moldova and Georgia.

The vast majority were refused entry at the country's ports and airports.

Today Justice Minister Alan Shatter said significant immigration reforms are on the cards for 2012.

One initiative will see gardaí redeployed to frontline duties as civilians take over their jobs in immigration in a pilot project to launch at Dublin Airport this month.

The Minister is also anticipating that by late spring/early summer all standard citizenship applications will be completed within six months.