The number of people applying for international protection in Ireland fell for a third consecutive month in March.

A total of 847 people sought asylum last month, representing a decrease of 42% compared to the same period last year.

Total applications made between January and March 2025 stood at 3,021 compared to 5,162 during the first three months of 2024.

Weekly arrival figures have been falling since October. For over a year, the largest number of international protection applicants have come from Nigeria.

The remaining top five countries from where people sought asylum in March included Pakistan, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Georgia – which was deemed ‘a safe country’ since 2018 but remained in the top five countries for applications until December 2023 – has returned.

In February the Minister for Justice said “too many people” were coming to Ireland seeking international protection who were not entitled to it.

Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that over 80% of applications were rejected in January this year at first instance.

His department is currently preparing for significant reform of Ireland’s asylum laws as part of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact which comes into effect in June next year.

Last month, preliminary data from Frontex showed the number of irregular border crossings into the European Union dropped by 25% in the first two months of 2025.

While Frontex said most routes saw a decrease in the number of arrivals, the Central Mediterranean route “defied the trend”.

It saw the biggest increase in the first two months of the year, up 48% year-on-year which made it the second most active migratory route to the EU.

Despite a 40% decrease from last year, Frontex said the Western African corridor remained the most active route for irregular migration in January-February. Most migrants came from Mali, Senegal, and Guinea.

BBC News reported last month that more than 5,000 migrants had crossed the English Channel between January and March this year, which was the earliest point in the year that crossings reached that point since recent records began.

One Irish migration analyst said asylum applications have always fluctuated and will continue to do so, which is why she said preparing for that fluctuation is the best approach.