Number seeking international protection falls by 29% (opens original article in a new tab)

The number of people seeking international protection in Ireland fell by 29% in 2025 after reaching a record high in 2024, according to government figures. First-instance decisions increased significantly, but the rate of approvals dropped sharply over recent years.

• Number of international protection applications fell by 29.1% in 2025 compared to 2024
• First-instance decisions increased to 20,177 in 2025, with 18.5% granted protection
• Proportion of positive first-instance decisions dropped from 72% in 2022 to 18.6% in 2025