The number of people in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) at the end of 2023 increased by 42%, with more than 2,000 applicants not offered accommodation on arrival.
European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland has published its annual review of migration and asylum in Ireland.
The report shows continuing challenges and developments in migration to the country.
These include continued forced migration flows, limited processing and accommodation capacity for international protection, continued labour market shortages and the expansion of sectors eligible for employment permits.
Figures show that immigration increased by 5% in the year to April 2024, which remains slightly lower than the peak in 2007. Immigration from outside the EU or UK made up 58% of this, including Ukrainians.
While applications for international protection in 2023 reduced by 3%, challenges with processing capacity led to 21,850 applications pending at the International Protection Office (IPO) at the end of the year, a 47% increase compared with 2022.
This was despite a 90% increase in decisions made by the IPO, the report stated.
The need for increased capacity to decide on appeals was clear from the report, with a threefold increase in such hearings in 2023.
While decisions in the tribunal increased by 22% and median processing time reduced to 5.5 months from 10.2 months, the scale of the increase in appeals taken meant there were 359% more applications being dealt with at the end of 2023 compared with 2022.
The continued international protection flows also led to challenges with reception accommodation.
2023 had seen ‘significant migration and asylum developments’, the report stated (Niall Carson/PA)
Meanwhile, efforts continued to be made to progress implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision, including inspections by the Health Information and Quality Authority of IPAS accommodation centres.
The introduction of local authority integration teams, and funding for Children and Young People Services Committees and family support practitioners to support international protection applicants represented significant progress in support for those living in IPAS accommodation.
The figures showed there had been a 24% increase in all valid residence permits, which are issued to non-EEA citizens, excluding beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, in 2023.
Some 30% of these were for employment, 21% for education, 19% for family, 27% for other reasons, and 3% for international protection.
The overall increase in all valid permits was not reflected in first permits issued, which increased by 3% in 2023.
By contrast, employment permits issued in 2023 decreased by 29% from 2022, although at just under 31,000 the number issued was still high compared with previous trends.
The most common sectors for employment permits were health and social work activities (32%) and information and communication activities (16%).
Almost 34,000 PPS numbers were allocated to arrivals from Ukraine in 2023, almost half the 2022 figure (around 67,000). Similar to 2022, women made up 48% of arrivals, and children 28%.
Keire Murphy, an author of the report said: “The 2023 report shows that while challenges in reception and processing for international protection as well as displacement from Ukraine continued, most migration is still for employment, education and to join family.”
Dervla Potter, an author of the report, said: “2023 saw significant migration and asylum developments, in a changing wider context of labour market shortages, increased cost of living, housing crisis and increase in anti-migrant sentiment.
“The report underscores the challenges faced in responding to these developments and highlights the need for preparation and planning to ensure Ireland has the infrastructure for an increasing population.”