Irish asylum applications fall to lowest level since 1997
The number of people applying for asylum in Ireland has reportedly fallen to its lowest level in almost 10 years.
Reports this morning say 4,314 sought refugee status last year, down slightly on the 2005 figure of 4,323.
This is the lowest figure since 1997, when 3,883 people sought asylum in Ireland.
The decrease is being attributed to the referendum on citizenship rules for children of foreign nationals, tougher fines for transport firms that carry asylum-seekers and a general decline in asylum applications across Europe.
This morning's reports say almost one-quarter of the people seeking asylum in Ireland last year were from Nigeria, with Sudan and Romania accounting for 7% each, followed by Iraq (5%) and Iran (5%).
