The number of Romanians claiming asylum in the State for the first three months of this year has dropped by almost two thirds compared with the same period last year, official figures show.
The significant drop in claimants from the eastern European state is thought by officials to be due to tightened document controls at Cherbourg port in France, and to cross-border travel restrictions caused by the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Nigeria remains the top country of origin for asylum-seekers this year to date, according to the latest figures from the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.
Nigerians made 854, or 37 per cent, of the total of 2,309 claims lodged to the end of March, compared with 881 or 31.3 per cent of a total of 2,812 claims in the same period last year.
The third-largest category of claimants were Moldovans, with 99 claims to the end of March. They were followed by Ukrainians, who made 83 applications, and Croatians, who lodged 81.
The remaining 915 claimants, representing almost 40 per cent of the total, came from various other countries.
Asylum-seekers are people who seek to remain in the State permanently on the grounds that they are fleeing persecution in their home countries. Once granted refugee status, they are entitled to live and work in the State and eventually to apply for citizenship.
If refugee status is refused, they are liable to deportation. Some 15 per cent of applicants for refugee status are successful.
Various reasons are given for the downward trend in the numbers of people seeking asylum.
Officials believe increased security at the Border due to the foot-and-mouth crisis has made it more difficult for people without proper papers to enter the Republic via the North.
The impending introduction of laws under which carriers would be fined for transporting people without adequate documentation prompted Irish ferry companies recently to start turning away people on the Cherbourg-Rosslare route.
Members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau are advising ferry staff and are also assisting immigration authorities in France and the UK.
The initiative at Cherbourg has led to a dramatic fall in the number of asylum claims lodged at Rosslare. However, refugee lobby groups and senior bishops have strongly criticised the Cherbourg practice as "preemptive exclusion" of potential asylum-seekers.
The Government last week announced an agreement with the Nigerian government on deporting unsuccessful asylum-seekers. The measure is not expected to reduce the number already in the State significantly, but officials say it may slow the number of Nigerians seeking asylum in Ireland.
Nigerians and Romanians accounted for about half of all asylum-seekers last year. Of the 10,938 applications made, 3,404 were from Nigeria and 2,384 from Romania.