Ireland has unveiled new measures to tighten its immigration and asylum rules, as ministers say rapid population growth and rising numbers of asylum seekers are placing heavy pressure on housing and public services.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan announced the reforms on Wednesday, saying the government needed a response to what he called a “worryingly” high rate of population increase and a surge in asylum applications.

“Our population last year increased by 1.6 percent, seven times the EU average,” O’Callaghan said. “It is positive that it’s increasing, but the rate is a worry.”

Ireland’s population reached an estimated 5.46 million in April 2025.

Net migration has nearly doubled since 2022, averaging about 72,000 a year, fuelled partly by work-permit applications, family reunifica

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