THERE HAS been a significant rise this year in the number of immigrants applying for voluntary repatriation through the International Organisation for Migration.
The scheme, which is funded in Dublin by the Department of Justice and the EU, offers asylum seekers and undocumented migrants a flight to their country of origin and "re-integration assistance" to the value of €600 for each person or up to €1,200 a family.
Although annual figures will not be available until next month, Doug Cubie, senior programme co- ordinator at the organisation, said there had been a significant rise in the number of applicants this year.
People from 30 countries have availed of the scheme so far this year, headed by Brazilians who accounted for 40 per cent last year. Georgians and Moldovans were also well represented.
Last year, over 250 immigrants availed of the programme.
"We have seen an increase in returns this year, there's no doubt about it," Mr Cubie said. "Whether that's because more people are aware of our services or whether it's because of the changing economic situation, there may be a number of reasons behind it."
Representatives of the Brazilian community in Gort, Co Galway, report a high take-up of the programme, with the volume of applicants causing longer waiting times.
Isaias Silva, a local interpreter, said the typical applicant was a recently arrived man who spoke no English and had not been able to find a regular job.
"The main reason is the economy is very bad," Mr Silva said. "We had a meat factory in Gort, but when that closed, a lot of Brazilians lost their jobs. They went into construction, but then there was the slowdown there.
"Most of them are people who arrived recently. They arrive, they spend the money that they brought with them - that might last three months - and do some casual jobs here and there, then they have no choice but to go back."
Successful applicants receive in- kind reintegration assistance.
Frank Murray, a community worker with close ties to the Gort Brazilian community, expressed concern that the Organisation for Migration was informing those who withdrew their applications that their details were being passed to the Department of Justice.
Mr Cubie said it was standard practice for all applications to be approved by the department and that this was made clear to those who lodged forms.
This was necessary to check if there were outstanding court proceedings against an applicant or any other constraint that would leave them ineligible.