The record number of people seeking international protection here in the first months of 2023, has been surpassed in the same period this year.
Its jumped by 72% according to figures from the Department of Justice.
Up until March 28th 5,163 people applied for international protection here. This represents a 72% increase when compared to the same period last year.
During the same period last year, 2,995 people applied for international protection here.
The large increase in asylum applications comes at a time when the Government are struggling to source accommodation. The State ceased offering accommodation to all new male International Protection Applicants on 4th December last year citing a “severe shortage”.
There are currently over 1,500 male asylum seekers awaiting an offer of accommodation, with many sleeping in tents outside the international protection office in Dublin City Centre.
