There were 4265 new asylum applications in Ireland in 2004, with a monthly average of more than 355 applications; that is a decline over the monthly figure for 2003 which was 620. Immigrants mainly arrived from Nigeria (37%), Romania (6%), China and Sudan (3%). These are some of the data furnished by the “Refugees Project” set up under the aegis of the Irish Bishops’ Conference. It publishes a monthly newsletter called “Sanctuary” in which it provides data and information on the situation of refugees and immigrants in the country. 430 asylum applications were accepted in 2004, while a further 642 were recognized only on appeal. 418 underage children were allowed to rejoin their families and 172 places made available in reception centres. At the end of January 2005 there were 6127 asylum seekers in 63 reception centres. There were 2866 expulsion orders last year: 599 of them actually carried out. Topping the expulsion list were Romanians with 250 expulsions. Various measures have been adopted to help refugees during the first months of 2005, especially as regards their state of health: a seminar was held on their psychological problems and the possibilities of getting treatment through work and housing. The newsletter also reports the protests against the policy of expulsions made by various NGOs involved in the field of political asylum and committed to the elimination of racial discrimination.
