The Irish Refugee Council publishes the 2025 AIDA report for Ireland

The Irish Refugee Council published the  2025 Asylum Information Database (AIDA) report, which highlights an increasingly restrictive asylum system and deterioration in standards. The organisation warned that the continued introduction of regressive policies by Minister Jim O’Callaghan is undermining asylum rights and eroding Ireland’s longstanding tradition of justice, compassion and solidarity.

The AIDA report, documents key developments and challenges in Ireland’s international protection system during 2025 and the first months of 2026. This is the 14th AIDA report. The report is published annually in coordination with the European Council of Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), and is an essential resource for practitioners, journalists, protection applicants and other stakeholders.

AIDA 2025 report finds that, the number of international protection applications lodged fell by 29 percent compared to the previous year. Despite this, delays in decision-making  continued, there was an ongoing policy of non accommodation of protection applicants and the number of deportation orders issued increased sharply.2025 also saw numerous major policy developments, including the publishing of the General Scheme of the International Protection Bill which launched the implementation process of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, the expansion of accelerated asylum procedures, new restrictions proposed for family reunification and citizenship, and the extension of Temporary Protection for people displaced from Ukraine.

Key findings in the AIDA report are:

Asylum Procedures

• 13,159 applications for international protection received in 2025.
• 19,558 decisions issued; 19% (3,751) were positive at first instance.
• 1,274 (23%) applicants received a positive decision on appeal.
• 22% of applicants were children.
• Main countries were Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• Significant increase in issuing of deportation orders throughout 2025.
• Applicants from Pakistan subject to accelerated procedure from July 2025.

Reception Conditions

• Non accommodation policy continued, prolonging street homelessness for single men.
• Overcrowded emergency centres and substandard tented facilities raised concerns about dignity, basic needs, and mental health.
• A judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union EU confirmed that Ireland cannot evade reception obligations due to increased asylum arrivals.
• The Health Information and Quality Authority continued its statutory remit of inspecting permanent accommodation centres under the national standards.  A number of centres inspected were found non-compliant in key areas.

Temporary Protection Statistics (as of Feb 2026):

• 121,048 registered for temporary protection since March 2022.
• 18,132 in state accommodation. 
• 29,860 accessed the labour market; 18,185 Ukrainian students were enrolled in Irish primary and secondary schools.
• 46,405 received income support; 15,575 child benefit. 

Accommodation Support

• Proposed reduction in Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) from €600 to €400/month (not yet implemented – commencing September 2027). ARP to be wound down by March 2027.