Trebling of applications for international protection linked to 'catch-up migration' 

In the first six months of this year, 6,494 applications for international protection were lodged in Ireland — a significant increase compared to the 2,235 applications in the first half of 2019. File picture: Valerie O’Sullivan

The near-trebling of applications for international protection in the first half of this year has largely been driven by catch-up migration following the Covid pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The findings are contained in a new analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) of the soaring numbers of applications, finding current labour market shortages here may also be contributing to the rise.