Asylum applications fell by almost 8 per cent last year to 3,985 applications, according to figures published by the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan today.
The figures are the lowest annual total since 1997 and show a drop of 7.6 per cent decrease on the corresponding figure of 4,314 in 2006 and a decrease of 66 per cent on the 2002 figure. It is also the first time since 1997 that asylum application numbers have been below 4,000.
Since the early 1990s, the number of asylum applications increased from 39 applications in 1992 to a high of 11,634 in 2002.
The top five source countries for people applying for asylum in 2007 were Nigeria, Iraq, China, Pakistan and Georgia. In 2006, the main source countries were Nigeria; Sudan; Romania; Iraq and Iran.
According to the Department of Justice, the reduction in asylum applications was due to new measures to combat abuses of the asylum process and the streamlining of processes in the asylum area.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan
Some 135 deportation orders to non-EU countries were acted on in 2007 and 225 transfer orders to other European States under the Dublin II Regulation were carried out.
The Dublin II Regulation, which came into operation on September 1st, 2003, sets out criteria for determining which member state is responsible for examining an asylum application where applications are lodged in more than one jurisdiction.
The rate of success for carrying out Dublin II Regulation transfer orders signed in 2007 was 68 per cent, compared to 53 per cent in 2006. Mr Lenihan said the use of this regulation will continue to be enhanced in 2008.
Commenting on the figures, the Minister said: "I welcome the continuing downward trend in asylum applications which allows the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service to continue to increase the priority given to other areas of its operations."
In April 2007, the Government published the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2007. This sets out a legislative framework for managing inward migration to Ireland and overhauls the State's immigration and protection laws.