As part of Ireland's participation in the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, Ireland has opted into Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management (the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR)). Under the AMMR, all Member States are required to develop and submit a National Asylum and Migration Management Strategy.
The National Asylum and Migration Management Strategy is based on a common EU template, mandated by the European Commission and finalised in February 2025. In completing the required template, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has gathered input from relevant teams across the Department as well as the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This National Asylum and Migration Management Strategy is unrelated to the commitment to develop a broader National Migration and Integration Strategy under the Programme for Government 2025, which is being led separately by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in cooperation with other government departments.
The National Asylum and Migration Management Strategy outlines existing and planned activities related to asylum and migration management in Ireland. The key elements of the Strategy are: Sets out the national context of increased net migration in recent years, although the numbers of international protection applicants have shown a decline this year alongside increased resources and accelerated processing.
Plans to continue to increase returns through aligning with EU law, continuing to encourage voluntary returns and through arranging more enforced returns, including through new charter flights. Continuing close policy, operational and policing co-operation with the United Kingdom on protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse.
Ensuring the attraction of talent to Ireland for the benefit of the Irish economy and society through expanding the occupations eligible for employment permits, piloting a new permit for seasonal workers to support agriculture and horticulture, developing a single streamlined application procedure for an employment permit, a visa and an immigration permission and establishing a programme to attract researchers. Countering human trafficking by making it easier for victims to be identified and to access supports.
Taking measures to prevent and combat migrant smuggling through legislation, enhanced enforcement, international collaboration, and protective measures for victims. Implementing of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum through a proposed new International Protection Bill which will enact the provisions of the Pact relating to screening and border procedures, restrictions on movement and more effective monitoring of presence at accommodation centres.
Progressing a comprehensive accommodation strategy to move away from reliance on private providers, with a scaling up of state-owned accommodation at its core. The strategy is working to develop an accommodation portfolio with a 35,000 bed capacity by 2028, including 14,000 State-owned beds.
Developing a successor strategy to the Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020 which will address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting and promoting migrant integration in Ireland. It will feed into a broader Migration and Integration Strategy that will be developed over the coming year as a commitment of the Programme for Government 2025. Establishing an independent fundamental rights monitoring mechanism to inspect asylum border facilities, investigate potential breaches of fundamental rights and deal with complaints.
Fulfilling Ireland's obligations under the Pact in relation to legal counselling, legal assistance and legal representation for international protection applicants during the international protection application and appeals process.
Using a digital first approach, taking into account people with vulnerabilities and the provision of information around special procedural or reception needs. Appointing a representative for unaccompanied minors and ensuring such minors will be accommodated in child appropriate accommodation in line with national law. Unaccompanied minors will also be excluded from the border procedure. The best interests of the child will be individually assessed and prioritised at all stages of the procedure.
Creating a cross-government Strategic Migration Policy Group (SMPG) at Assistant Secretary level with the aim of developing a strategic approach to migration policy and its implications across Government and overseeing a Migration and Integration Strategy as mentioned above (already in place).
Establishing a new Unit for Future Planning, under the Programme for Government 2025, to forecast demographic changes and ensure accurate estimates of the demand for essential services and employment.