Dealing with people seeking international protection is an increasingly complex political issue and is likely to be the centerpiece of political debate when the Dail resumes from its Christmas break next week.
Here we present some of the data behind the debate surrounding the international protection system.
‘Fair share’
A common complaint among protesters across the country is that their regions are being deprived of a significant number of international protection applicants.
A county-by-county breakdown shows that some counties have double the share of others, but in all cases it’s less than 2% of the total population.
Unsurprisingly, Dublin has the highest number of international asylum seekers in detention, at 9,310, or 1.7% of the population.
However, the highest proportion is in County Donegal, with 1,690 applicants, or 2% of the population. This is followed by County Mayo with 1,250 people (1.9% of the population) and County Monaghan with 527 people (1.8% of the population).
By comparison, the latest figures available show that asylum seekers in many counties, including Cavan (180), Carlow (178), Kilkenny (156) and Offaly (235). The number is less than 0.5% of the total population.
In Tipperary, where protests have been taking place over migrant housing in Roscrea, there were 577 applicants at the end of last year.
Aontu leader Pedal Tobin, who compiled the national breakdown, said he believed there was an “uneven distribution” of asylum seekers.
He said: “County Donegal receives more than double the national average and more than six times the level received by counties such as Kilkenny.”
“Single man”
A common issue raised among local protest groups is housing for single men’s groups.
The government has been accused of bowing to local pressure when it decided to accommodate families rather than single men at protest sites.
So what’s the breakdown?
Of the 12,329 classified arrivals last year, 46% or 5,638 were single men. 28% or 3,472 were part of a family with children, 15% or 1,883 were single women, and 870 or 7% were part of a couple.
Fine Gael senator Barry Ward, with Colm Ó Mongan, told RTÉ Saturday there had been no U-turn as a result of the protests.
However, he said there had been a “significant increase” in the number of families with children in recent weeks.
The ministry’s data shows the proportion of single men fell to less than 40% in December, but does not provide exact data on families.
Accommodation fee
The government is considering purchasing a large-scale reception center, with a cabinet decision likely within the next few weeks.
However, the amount paid to accommodation providers, mainly hotels, amounts to an average of €18,500 per guest per year.