CSO data shows a 12% decrease in immigration to Ireland in the year to April 2026
On 24 August 2026, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released its annual Population and Migration Estimates report. According to the report, the population continued to rise and now stands at 5,525,600 people. Overview The CSO estimates that 110,600 people immigrated to Ireland in the 12-months to April 2026, which is a 12% decrease on the same period in 2025. … Read More
04 Aug 2026EMN inform on measures for early integration of international protection applicants
The latest EMN inform outlines early integration measures for applicants for international protection across EMN Member and Observer Countries, covering delivery, responsibility and funding during the asylum and reception process. The inform examines the types of early integration measures provided to applicants for international protection by EMN Member and Observer Countries, including how these measures are delivered, which authorities … Read More
29 Jul 2026New EMN-OECD joint study published on skills matching policies and instruments for third country nationals
A new EMN-OECD study examines how third-country nationals in EMN Member Countries face skills mismatch in the labour market. It focuses on labour migrants as well as those arriving via family reunification, beneficiaries of international protection (BIP) and beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP). Drawing on contributions from 25 EMN National Contact Points and OECD comparative analysis, this study highlights … Read More
20 Jul 2026EMN Asylum and Migration Overview 2025 published
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published the Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) 2025, providing a comprehensive overview of the main legal, policy and operational developments in asylum and migration across EMN Member and Observer Countries, including relevant statistics, from January to December 2025. The share of third-country nationals in the total population varied across EMN Member Countries and … Read More
24 Jun 2026The United Kingdom joins the European Migration Network as an Observer Country
On 19 June 2026, the European Commission and the Home Office of the United Kingdom signed an Administrative Arrangement formalising their cooperation within the framework of the European Migration Network (EMN), as the United Kingdom becomes one of the network’s Observer Countries. Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Beate Gminder, met with UK Director General for the Migration and … Read More
09 Jun 2026New EMN inform examines alternatives to in-kind housing for international protection applicants
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published the inform ‘Alternatives to providing housing in-kind for applicants for international protection’. Based on contributions from 22 EMN Member Countries as well as Norway and Serbia, the inform maps national approaches between January 2020 and October 2025. Reception systems for applicants for international protection traditionally rely on in‑kind housing such as reception … Read More
13 May 2026New EMN Inform on the accessibility of digital services for third country nationals in legal migration procedures
A new European Migration Network (EMN) inform ‘Bridging the digital divide – digital services in legal migration procedures for accessibility and inclusion’, examines digital services in legal migration procedures. This inform focuses on third-country nationals with disabilities and with digital disadvantage who are applying for an authorisation to stay through legal migration channels. Drawing on contributions from 25 EMN … Read More
21 Apr 2026New EMN Inform on countries of origin and safe third countries under the Pact’s APR
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published the inform on Safe countries of origin and safe third countries: criteria for identifying and examining applications in light of the new Asylum Procedure Regulation. Based on contributions from 26 EMN Member Countries and Serbia, the inform examines current national approaches to safe country of origin (SCO) and safe third country (STC) … Read More
18 Mar 2026What’s new in the recast Reception Conditions Directive?
The Reception Conditions Directive lays down the minimum standards of reception that a person applying for asylum is entitled to. This will be the third version of the Directive, which is being updated as part of the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: the first was passed in 2003, and the second in 2013. Ireland didn’t opt into … Read More
04 Mar 2026A look at the EU Pact’s Qualification Regulation
The Qualification Regulation outlines the criteria that qualify somebody to be a beneficiary of international protection and the rights attached. It is a new Regulation included in the EU Asylum and Migration Pact that is due to come into effect on 12 June 2026. It replaces two previous Directives of the same name. Ireland opted into the first Directive … Read More
03 Mar 2026Latest CSO data on arrivals from Ukraine shows decreasing rate following October peak
On 18 February 2026, the CSO released the 18th Arrivals from Ukraine series. According to the latest data, there were 121,048 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in Ireland who were issued a PPSN as of 3 February 2026. Of this number, 69% (84,100) had administrative activity after 30 November 2025, which could indicate that over 30% of those arrivals are … Read More
20 Oct 2025What’s new in the Pact Eurodac Regulation?
Background The Eurodac Regulation is one of a number of updated Regulations included in the EU Asylum and Migration Pact that is due to come into effect on 12 June 2026. It replaces the previous Eurodac Regulation, which Ireland has been a part of since 2000. You can find a resource produced by EMN Ireland detailing Ireland’s current participation … Read More
26 Sep 2025New EMN Inform on the distribution of international protection accommodation centres and relationship management with local communities
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published the inform on Distribution of international protection accommodation centres and relationship management with local communities, offering a comparative analysis of how 23 EMN Member Countries and Serbia distribute accommodation centres and engage with local stakeholders and service providers when a centre is opened. The inform covers developments up to February 2025 and … Read More
04 Sep 2025CSO data shows a 16% decrease in immigration to Ireland in the year to April 2025
On 26 August 2025, the Central Statistics Office released its annual Population and Migration Estimates report. According to the report, the population continued to rise and now stands at 5,458,600 people. Overview The CSO estimates that 125,300 people immigrated into Ireland in the 12-months to April 2025, which is a 16% decrease from the same period in 2024. There … Read More
28 Aug 2025CSO release provides new information on the demographics and economic activity of IP applicants
On 14 August 2025, the CSO published the first release in a new annual series which sheds new light on the demographic, economic and social welfare characteristics of international protection applicants. The release uses a novel methodology to look at applicants who were beneficiaries of the Daily Expense Allowance (DEA) between 2016 and 2024. Some Background The report … Read More
14 Aug 2025A quick look at the EU Migration and Asylum Pact’s Asylum Procedure Regulation (APR)
Background The Asylum Procedure Regulation (APR), like the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR) which you can learn more about here, is a new Regulation included in the EU Asylum and Migration Pact that is due to come into effect on 12 June 2026. It replaces two previous Directives of the same name. Ireland opted into the first Directive … Read More
05 Aug 2025Asylum and migration case law and legislation changes in 2025 so far
EMN Ireland monitors the legal developments related to migration and asylum in Ireland, which includes case law and legislation. Approximately twice a year, we publish summaries of these developments as entries in the legal resource section of our website. Our case law summaries include a detailing of the facts present in the case, the decision of the case and … Read More
17 Jul 2025New EMN study examines international efforts to combat trafficking in human beings
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published the study ‘Trafficking in human beings – the international dimension’, outlining efforts by 25 EMN Member and Observer Countries to combat trafficking in human beings. The study examines policies aligned with the EU Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025, covering prevention, law enforcement, victim support, and international partnerships. The study … Read More
14 Jul 2025What is the EU Pact’s new Asylum and Migration Management Regulation?
Background The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR) is a new Regulation included in the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, due to come into effect on 12 June 2026 alongside all other Pact regulations. Among other things, it replaces the current Dublin III Regulation, which determines which EU country is responsible for processing an application for asylum. Ireland has … Read More
09 Jul 2025EMN Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) 2024 published, detailing key legal, policy, and operational changes
The European Migration Network (EMN) has published its new EMN Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) 2024, alongside a Statistical Annex developed by Eurostat. The Overview highlights key legal, policy, and operational changes across a range of asylum and migration themes during the year 2024, as well as statistical trends in 2024 and comparisons with previous years. It draws on contributions from … Read More
30 Jun 2025Review of Ireland’s opt in Protocol on the area of freedom, security and justice recommends continued use
On 26 May 2025, the Irish Government approved the findings of a Review of the operation of Protocol 21 (commonly referred to as the opt-in Protocol). This is the part of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union that allows Ireland to be able to opt in to measures that relate to the area of freedom, security … Read More
25 Jun 2025Ireland’s National Implementation Plan made publicly available
One of the first submissions to the European Commission that Member States must make as a part of their formal preparations for the implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact is the National Implementation Plan (NIP). The National Implementation Plan is intended to give an outline of how Member States plan to approach the necessary legislative, technological and … Read More
16 Jun 2025New EMN Glossary app and website now live
As a flagship product of the European Migration Network (EMN), the EMN Glossary is essential in fulfilling the network’s mission to provide up-to-date, objective, and comparable information on migration and asylum. It provides reliable and verified translations for terms and definitions related to migration and asylum, making them accessible to all interested stakeholders. The EMN Glossary is a result … Read More
10 Jun 2025New EMN Ireland Migration Memo on contributions to international protection accommodation
EMN Ireland has published the fifth in the Migration Memo series, “How do EMN countries manage contributions to international protection accommodation?” The Memo, which summarises responses from 24 EMN countries to two EMN Ad-Hoc Queries from 2024, presents insights on this question in a clear and easy-to-digest format designed specifically to support the work of policymakers, academics, and professionals … Read More
27 May 2025New EMN Ireland series on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact
This is the first in an ongoing series of news items on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. For the next year, EU countries will be preparing to implement the Pact which will have different implications for different countries. It continues work that began in 1999 when the European Council committed to establishing a Common European Asylum System based … Read More
14 May 2025New EMN Inform published on access to remedies for international protection applicants
The European Migration Network (EMN) has just published ‘Access to remedies for international protection applicants’, providing a detailed examination of how EMN Member Countries organise their first instance appeals procedures. This EMN Inform delivers a comprehensive comparative analysis, reflecting on procedural safeguards, key challenges, and good practices observed across the EU. This assessment supports the EU’s Pact on Migration … Read More
04 Apr 2025Latest CSO data on arrivals from Ukraine shows slowing rate of increase
On 19 February 2025, the CSO released the 15th in their Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland series. According to the latest data, there were 112,189 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine in Ireland who were issued a PPSN. Of this number, 71% (79,654) had administrative activity after 30 November 2024 which could indicate that nearly 30% of those arrivals … Read More
12 Mar 2025New EMN-OECD joint Inform shows many approaches to strategy for migration
The European Migration Network (EMN) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have just published the joint inform ‘Designing migration strategies’. It focuses on the development and implementation of migration strategies by governments in EMN Member and Observer Countries, and non-EU OECD countries, highlighting common challenges and good practices. In this inform, strategies are divided into six … Read More
05 Mar 20252024 statistics on employment permits released
On 2 January 2025, the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment released statistics on employment permits for 2024. There was a total of 39,390 permits issued, 2,456 were refused, and 1,064 were withdrawn. Since 2021 there have been some fluctuations in the number of employment permits issued. While 2024 saw an increase of a little over 8,000 from the … Read More
03 Mar 2025New joint EMN-OECD inform examines innovative strategies to attract foreign talent
The latest joint European Migration Network (EMN) – OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) inform examines new and innovative ways to attract foreign talent used by EMN Member Countries and selected non-EMN OECD countries, covering the period January 2021 and March 2024. Based on input from 21 EMN Member Countries and data provided by the OECD, on OECD … Read More