Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has revealed that nearly 87.66% of those seeking international protection are crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic before making their asylum applications, reports RTE.
Speaking at the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Migration, Mr O’Callaghan stated: “They are coming from the United Kingdom, arriving into Northern Ireland and coming down claiming international protection in Ireland.”
He said that using the Common Travel Area in this manner is “unlawful,” reports RTE.
Mr O’Callaghan added that his counterpart in the UK has voiced similar concerns regarding “people arriving into Dublin, going up to Belfast and going over to the UK that way.”
“They are coming from the United Kingdom, arriving into Northern Ireland and coming down claiming international protection in Ireland,” he reiterated, reports RTE.
“If someone arrives into Dublin Airport or one of the ports and want to claim asylum, they would do it there and then,” reports RTE.
This response came after Independent Senator Michael McDowell inquired whether former Minister Helen McEntee’s previous statement that over 80% of asylum seekers crossed from Northern Ireland still held true.
Mr O’Callaghan told the committee that the cost of housing international protection applicants is “unsustainable” and needs to be reduced.
This year, €1.2 billion was allocated to accommodate asylum seekers, an increase from just over €1 billion the previous year, reports RTE.
He pointed out that nearly 90% of the housing provided is sourced through private contracts.
“We need to move away from the emergency use of hotels to a more sustainable and cost-efficient state accommodation model,” Mr O’Callaghan said, reports RTE.
He mentioned that his Department is currently reviewing commercial agreements to negotiate cost reductions as contracts come up for renewal.
He also said the Department is concentrating on expanding state-owned accommodation options to reduce dependence on the private sector, reports RTE.
Mr O’Callaghan emphasized that it’s no longer “feasible” for those granted residency to continue living in IPAS facilities.
He reminded the committee that the Department of Justice is “not a landlord.”
“It is important to get the message out that they have to move on,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr O’Callaghan explained that these steps are part of an effort to shorten the time people spend in the international protection process.
He noted that an “unprecedented” spike in asylum applications since 2022 required the housing system to rapidly expand under severe strain.
According to the minister, more than 45,000 people applied for international protection across 2022, 2023, and 2024, reports RTE.
That figure is nearly equivalent to the total number of applications submitted in the prior sixteen years combined.
“This coincided with the invasion of Ukraine when over 114,000 arrived in Ireland fleeing that conflict,” said Mr O’Callaghan.
He acknowledged that this surge left the State in a weak position to negotiate due to overwhelming demand and limited supply, reports RTE.
“It had to accept almost every offer of accommodation that it received,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr O’Callaghan said the market conditions benefited private providers, resulting in contract terms that wouldn’t be agreed to under normal circumstances.
During this period, he said, the State was “desperate for accommodation” and private providers took advantage to charge higher rates.
Despite this, Mr O’Callaghan said his Department is now “regaining control of the system” and speeding up the processing of applications, reports RTE.
In 2024, the International Protection Office issued more than 14,000 first-instance decisions, up from 8,500 in 2023.
He said that 13,800 of those decisions were made this year alone.
The International Appeals Protection Tribunal closed about 3,100 appeals in 2024, compared to 1,700 the year before.
Mr O’Callaghan added that the tribunal has concluded 4,100 appeals so far this year.
“My overall strategy for the International Protection process aimed at making more and faster decisions is working,” he said, reports RTE.
He also stressed that deportations are a vital component of immigration policy.
So far this year, 3,029 deportation orders have been signed—more than double the 1,400 issued during the same time last year.
“There is no point in having an asylum process to determine who is in need of international protection if at the end of the process – those people that were rejected are allowed to remain in the country,” he said, reports RTE.
Upon assuming his role, Mr O’Callaghan said there were “well over 3,000” international protection applicants without accommodation.
“Today, that number is just over 600,” he said, reports RTE.
He mentioned that the number of state-owned accommodation beds has increased to nearly 4,000, with a target of expanding to 14,000.
A total of 33,000 individuals, including 9,500 children, are living in IPAS housing.
However, “regrettably, over 5,000 people who have been granted status remain in IPAS.”
Mr O’Callaghan said it is “intolerable” that “many” of those staying in IPAS are employed but do not contribute toward their housing costs.
He warned that accommodation should not be “abused” and said that all new offers are now subject to thorough review by his Department, reports RTE.
Factors considered include the property’s location, cost-effectiveness for the State, and due diligence regarding planning and regulatory compliance.
He said that the wellbeing of residents and proximity to services are also evaluated.
Mr O’Callaghan acknowledged that immigration has greatly benefited Ireland, reports RTE.
“We need to seek to avoid the divisive and often aggressive, toxic debate that has developed in other parts of the world.”
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon questioned the minister about a case in which “five children, two of whom were two weeks away from concluding their primary school experience,” were deported.
He criticised the move as lacking compassion and asked whether the minister regretted the decision.
“I don’t derive any pleasure in doing that,” Mr O’Callaghan replied, reports RTE.
He said such decisions are part of running a functional asylum system.
“Regrettably, it’s something that has to be done,” he added, reports RTE.
Mr Gannon also queried how safety standards are maintained in IPAS centres.
In response, Mr O’Callaghan said 12 contracts have been cancelled this year due to substandard conditions.
“82% of all centres were inspected in 2024,” he said. “My officials informed me that there are inspections of premises on a yearly basis and those inspections are unannounced,” reports RTE.
Labour TD Alan Kelly brought up concerns regarding how IPAS centres are distributed geographically.
“Location is taken into consideration,” said Mr O’Callaghan, reports RTE.
“When there was the surge, there was very little option for the State,” he said, reports RTE.
“I don’t want to see a situation where there is a large concentration of IPAS centres in certain areas. They need to be distributed,” reports RTE.
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