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This report presents results from a novel CSO methodology that has produced a dataset based on beneficiaries of the Daily Expense Allowance, i.e. people seeking International Protection in Ireland. The methodology is explained in detail in the Background Notes. Beneficiaries from 2016 to 2024 have been determined and the results will focus on these cohorts. The report has three chapters starting below with the Demographic profile of the cohort, then examining the economic activity over time and finishing with a signs of life assessment.
The number of new beneficiaries of the Daily Expense Allowance increased substantially in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to more than 10,250. This follows year-on-year increases between 2016 and 2019 with declines in 2020 and 2021. These people form a significant subset of people seeking International Protection in Ireland.
The percentage share of women is lower than men in all years from 2016 to 2024, varying from 43% of the total in 2019 to 34% of the total in both 2022 and 2023.
Just over 8,300 (or 48%) of the people identified as new beneficiaries of the Daily Expense Allowance in 2024 were aged 25 - 44 years as shown in Figure 2.2. For each year, this age group had the highest percentage share in that year, 2018 had the lowest share for this group with 45% and 2022 had the highest with 56%.
Those aged 0 - 14 years old had the next highest percentage share for all years but 2022 and 2023. More than 25% of the totals in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were in the youngest age group. The percentage share in the youngest age group was slightly lower in 2020, 2021 and 2024 at 23%, 22% and 23% respectively. The years 2022 and 2023 have shown lower percentages for the youngest group (15% both years).
In some cases, the country of nationality of dependent children of those identified as beneficiaries of the Daily Expense Allowance was set as the same as the claimants. It should be noted that country of nationality was identified at the time the Daily Expense Allowance claim started and this may be data that was collected several years ago and in some cases, people may no longer identify with the nationality recorded here.
Country of nationality for activity years starting in 2022, 2023 and 2024 are assessed in Figure 2.3, any country identified with over 400 people in either year is displayed in the figure. Table 2.2 contains more granular information on country of nationality over a longer time period (2016 - 2024).
According to Figure 2.3, in 2024 four countries had more than 1,000 people newly identified as beneficiaries of the Daily Expense Allowance, Nigeria had the highest volume, followed by Jordan, Somalia, and Pakistan.
Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have seen consistent considerable increases in the periods of 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024.
Georgia and Zimbabwe have seen consistent considerable decreases in the periods of 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024.
Algeria has seen substantial decreases from above 1,300 in 2022/2023 to less than 400 in 2024.
Jordan and the State of Palestine have seen substantial increases in 2024 from close to zero people to 2,766 and 877 respectively.
Figure 2.4 presents the sex distribution of the eleven countries of nationality identified based on the criteria outlined in the "Country of Nationality, 2022 to 2024" Section.
For the Daily Expense Allowance start year of 2024, there are nine countries with more men than women. These include Afghanistan (731 men or 90%), Algeria (304 men or 81%), Bangladesh (556 men or 57%), Georgia (418 men or 66%), Jordan (1,890 men or 68%), Nigeria (2,129 men or 51%), Pakistan (871 men or 69%), State of Palestine (650 men or 74%) and Somalia (884 men or 69%).
The two remaining countries of South Africa (251 women) and Zimbabwe (324 women) had an approximate share of 59% women in 2024.
For 2023 and 2022, the percentage share for men and women is similar for each of the eleven countries. This is the case even though volume per countries differs as discussed in the "Country of Nationality breakdown in 2022, 2023 and 2024" section.
The age distribution of the eleven countries of nationality identified based on the criteria in the "Country of Nationality, 2022 to 2024" Section are examined in Figure 2.5.
Age groups are assessed for the Daily Expense Allowance with a start year of 2024:
There were seven countries of nationality with over 20% of people aged under 15 years. These were Bangladesh (225 people or 23%), Jordan (769 people or 28%), Nigeria (1,420 or 34%), Pakistan (309 people or 25%), State of Palestine (187 people or 21%), South Africa (136 people or 32%) and Zimbabwe (111 people or 20%). It's interesting to note that for South Africa there are more people aged 0-14 than any other age group.
The countries of nationality with less than 20% of people aged under 15 years were Afghanistan (50 people or 6%), Algeria (72 people or 19%), Georgia (75 people or 12%) and Somalia (74 or 6%). For Georgia there are less people aged 0-14 than any other age group.
There were four countries of nationality with over 20% of people aged 15-24 years. These were Afghanistan (326 people or 40%), Jordan (617 people or 22%), State of Palestine (249 people or 28%) and Somalia (394 people or 31%).
There were seven countries of nationality with less than 20% of people aged 15-24 years. These were Algeria (32 people or 9%), Bangladesh (176 people or 18%), Georgia (88 people or 14%), Nigeria (392 people or 9%), Pakistan (222 people or 18%), South Africa (84 people or 20%) and Zimbabwe (74 people or 14%). It's worth noting that for Nigeria there are less people aged 15-24 than any other age group.
In 2024, the 25-44 age group has the highest percentage share for all countries of nationality with the exception of South Africa. There were five countries of nationality with over 50% of people aged 25-44. These were Algeria (239 people or 64%), Bangladesh (553 people or 56%), Georgia (390 people or 61%), Pakistan (638 or 51%) and Somalia (768 people or 60%).
There were six countries of nationality with less than 50% of people aged 25-44. These were Afghanistan (396 people or 49%), Jordan (1,161 people or 42%), Nigeria (1,819 people or 44%), State of Palestine (375 people or 43%), South Africa (128 people or 30%) and Zimbabwe (265 people or 49%).
For the 25-44 years age group, it is worth observing that the only volumes above 1,000 people (for Nigeria and Jordan) both contribute less than a 50% share within the respective countries of nationality.
In 2024, the 45 years and over age group has the lowest percentage share for all countries of nationality with the exception of Georgia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. There were four countries of nationality with over 10% of people aged 45 years. These were Georgia (85 people or 13%), Nigeria (545 people or 13%), South Africa (80 people or 19%) and Zimbabwe (96 people or 18%).
There were seven countries of nationality with less than 10% of people aged 45 years and over. These were Afghanistan (39 people or 5%), Algeria (31 people or 8%), Bangladesh (29 people or 3%), Jordan (219 people or 8%), Pakistan (92 people or 7%), State of Palestine (66 people or 8%) and Somalia (48 people or 4%).
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