Fresh data released by the Department of Justice show that Ireland executed only 19 of 1,037 ‘Dublin III’ transfer decisions between 2021 and 2025, an effective compliance rate of under 2 %. In 2025 alone, 417 applicants were told that another EU member state was responsible for examining their claim, yet only two were removed. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, answering a parliamentary question, conceded that the current system is “challenging to implement” and confirmed that detention periods have already been extended from seven to 42 days to give Garda National Immigration Bureau teams more time to organise travel documents and escorts.(irishtimes.com)
The revelation underscores wider strains on Ireland’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), which continues to struggle with capacity shortages; critics argue that the low transfer rate encourages ‘asylum shopping’ and raises costs for Irish taxpayers. O’Callaghan said the forthcoming EU Pact on Migration and Asylum—due to take effect in mid-2026—will replace Dublin III with a “more efficient and streamlined” allocation formula and enhanced biometric tracking via the upgraded Eurodac database.(irishtimes.com)
![Dublin III Failings: Just 2 % of Asylum Applicants Ordered to Transfer Are Actually Sent to Other EU States]()
Amid these complexities, companies, humanitarian organisations and private travellers can rely on VisaHQ to streamline the paperwork for Irish visas and residence permits. The platform provides up-to-date guidance, document checklists and application tracking, helping applicants avoid common errors and delays; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/
For companies that relocate staff under humanitarian pathways or hire refugees, the figures signal prolonged processing times and uncertainty around residence permission. Organisations hosting displaced employees should plan for extended onboarding support and monitor policy shifts as Ireland transposes the new EU regulations.
Legal practitioners note that the extended detention window could prompt fresh High Court challenges on proportionality grounds, while NGOs say the focus should be on faster initial decisions rather than forced removals. Nonetheless, the statistics add political pressure on the coalition to demonstrate control of migration flows ahead of local elections in June.
The revelation underscores wider strains on Ireland’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), which continues to struggle with capacity shortages; critics argue that the low transfer rate encourages ‘asylum shopping’ and raises costs for Irish taxpayers. O’Callaghan said the forthcoming EU Pact on Migration and Asylum—due to take effect in mid-2026—will replace Dublin III with a “more efficient and streamlined” allocation formula and enhanced biometric tracking via the upgraded Eurodac database.(irishtimes.com)
Amid these complexities, companies, humanitarian organisations and private travellers can rely on VisaHQ to streamline the paperwork for Irish visas and residence permits. The platform provides up-to-date guidance, document checklists and application tracking, helping applicants avoid common errors and delays; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/
For companies that relocate staff under humanitarian pathways or hire refugees, the figures signal prolonged processing times and uncertainty around residence permission. Organisations hosting displaced employees should plan for extended onboarding support and monitor policy shifts as Ireland transposes the new EU regulations.
Legal practitioners note that the extended detention window could prompt fresh High Court challenges on proportionality grounds, while NGOs say the focus should be on faster initial decisions rather than forced removals. Nonetheless, the statistics add political pressure on the coalition to demonstrate control of migration flows ahead of local elections in June.
