Newly released Central Statistics Office figures, analysed on 28 January, confirm that 125,300 people immigrated to Ireland in the year to April 2025, pushing net migration to 59,700 and lifting the population to 5.46 million. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) spent a record €1.2 billion in 2025—€378 million in Q3 alone—on hotel rooms and other emergency lodgings for more than 33,000 asylum applicants.
The data arrive just weeks before the Oireachtas begins detailed scrutiny of the International Protection Bill 2026, which aims to slash processing times and reduce reliance on the private-hotel sector. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee argues that quicker first-instance decisions will allow successful applicants to integrate faster while accelerating removals for refused cases.
For organisations and individuals trying to keep pace with Ireland’s shifting immigration rules, VisaHQ provides end-to-end visa and travel-document assistance, including personalised guidance on required paperwork and timelines. Their dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers up-to-date information and application support, helping employers and employees alike minimise delays and ensure compliance.
![CSO data show net migration hits 59,700; hotel-accommodation bill for asylum seekers tops €1.2 bn]()
From a labour-market standpoint the migration inflow continues to fill chronic skills gaps—particularly in construction and healthcare—but it also exacerbates Ireland’s housing shortage. Only 24,325 new homes were completed in the first nine months of 2025, leaving supply roughly 35 % below the government’s own annual target. Employers engaged in large-scale recruitment should therefore budget for higher relocation and housing-support costs, and may need to extend temporary accommodation allowances.
Political pressure is intensifying: a recent opinion poll shows 26 % of voters now cite immigration as their top concern, up from 14 % a year ago. Business groups fear that a hardening public mood could translate into stricter permit quotas or slower processing unless the new Bill delivers tangible efficiencies.
HR leaders are advised to monitor parliamentary debates and, where possible, submit evidence highlighting the economic contribution of sponsored workers. Early engagement can help ensure that any tightening of rules does not inadvertently undermine Ireland’s competitiveness in sectors such as tech, pharma and financial services.
The data arrive just weeks before the Oireachtas begins detailed scrutiny of the International Protection Bill 2026, which aims to slash processing times and reduce reliance on the private-hotel sector. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee argues that quicker first-instance decisions will allow successful applicants to integrate faster while accelerating removals for refused cases.
For organisations and individuals trying to keep pace with Ireland’s shifting immigration rules, VisaHQ provides end-to-end visa and travel-document assistance, including personalised guidance on required paperwork and timelines. Their dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers up-to-date information and application support, helping employers and employees alike minimise delays and ensure compliance.
From a labour-market standpoint the migration inflow continues to fill chronic skills gaps—particularly in construction and healthcare—but it also exacerbates Ireland’s housing shortage. Only 24,325 new homes were completed in the first nine months of 2025, leaving supply roughly 35 % below the government’s own annual target. Employers engaged in large-scale recruitment should therefore budget for higher relocation and housing-support costs, and may need to extend temporary accommodation allowances.
Political pressure is intensifying: a recent opinion poll shows 26 % of voters now cite immigration as their top concern, up from 14 % a year ago. Business groups fear that a hardening public mood could translate into stricter permit quotas or slower processing unless the new Bill delivers tangible efficiencies.
HR leaders are advised to monitor parliamentary debates and, where possible, submit evidence highlighting the economic contribution of sponsored workers. Early engagement can help ensure that any tightening of rules does not inadvertently undermine Ireland’s competitiveness in sectors such as tech, pharma and financial services.
