Ireland is bracing itself for a significant surge in asylum seekers, with Justice Minister Helen McEntee predicting a sharp increase in the number of applications.
McEntee, speaking on The Tonight Show, revealed plans to boost the country’s asylum processing capacity by an astounding 700%. “Soon, we’ll be able to handle 25,000 applications a year,” she said, up from the 3,000 typically processed annually before the overhaul.
McEntee acknowledged the challenges, noting that global displacement is at an unprecedented level, driven by war, starvation, and crises. “You can’t tell millions fleeing hardship to stay put,” she emphasized. The numbers have already soared from 3,000 to 4,000 annual applications to nearly 20,000. McEntee warned that this figure could rise even further.
Under her leadership, the asylum system has undergone a massive transformation. With a substantial increase in staff and improved processes, Ireland has tripled its asylum output. However, McEntee predicts the capacity will grow even more, with the country poised to handle 25,000 cases by next year. She also noted that these changes would make it easier to remove those who are denied asylum. “Faster processing means some countries have seen an 80% drop in applicants,” she said.
Despite these improvements, Ireland’s record on removals is problematic. Reports show that nearly 4,000 failed asylum seekers issued deportation orders between 2018 and 2022 remain unaccounted for in the country. Only a small fraction of deportation orders were enforced, with the majority of failed applicants staying in Ireland. Additionally, a significant portion of new arrivals in 2022 had either lost or destroyed their travel documents, complicating the verification of their asylum claims.
The rapid rise in asylum seekers has triggered concern among some Irish citizens, particularly over the demographic and cultural shifts that come with increased immigration. One of the government’s strategies has been to relocate asylum seekers to rural areas, including a controversial plan to place 280 migrants in Dundrum, a small village in County Tipperary. With a population of only 165, the new arrivals would dramatically alter the village’s makeup, sparking outrage from local residents.
In Dundrum, the government plans to convert a hotel into accommodation for the migrants, a move that has ignited protests and opposition across the country. Similar tensions have flared up in areas like Coolock, where locals have clashed with police over the establishment of refugee centers. Critics argue that these measures are part of a broader effort to reshape Ireland’s population.
As the country prepares for the upcoming general election on November 29, McEntee’s handling of asylum policy and migration will likely remain a key issue in the political debate.
