<p>
	More than 2,200 people were deported from Ireland or turned back at the country&rsquo;s sea and airports last year, new figures reveal.</p>
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	Applications for asylum stood at 946 in 2013, just below the previous year&rsquo;s tally, but well down on the peak of 11,600 recorded in 2002.</p>
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	A total of 1,890 people were refused entry at sea and airports.</p>
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	Some 210 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants were also deported from the State in 2013, with Nigeria, China, Mauritius, Albania, and Pakistan representing the countries to which most were returned.</p>
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	A further 84 asylum seekers were transferred to the EU member state in which they first made their application, and 63 EU nationals were returned to their countries of origin on foot of a removal order.</p>
<p>
	There were 166,000 new applications for visas, residence, citizenship, and protection last year, with Indian nationals making up the largest proportion of applicants, followed by Russian nationals.</p>
<p>
	Migration, mainly from the EU, saw the non-Irish population of the country rise to 544,000 people, or 12% of the total.</p>
<p>
	Mr Shatter said migration was a key to sustaining economic recovery. &ldquo;I made it my priority to take steps to harness the previously untapped potential of the immigration system to aid economic activity as part of our national recovery,&rdquo; he said.</p>
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	&ldquo;As these figures demonstrate the initiatives and reforms being pursued are working.</p>
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	&ldquo;Inward investment and enterprise is being encouraged. Visa applications to visit Ireland for tourism and business reasons are now higher than they have ever been in the history of the State and many thousands more are visiting Ireland under the terms of the Irish visa waiver programme.&rdquo;</p>
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	Some 4,370 people seeking international protection were held in direct provision centres, marking a drop of 470 on 2012, and well down on the 2010 figure of 6,100.</p>
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	Mr Shatter estimated the number of people allowed to remain in the State from outside the European Economic Area stood at 120,000 last year, down from 133,200 in 2010.</p>
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	Mr Shatter said the majority of these people were working or studying here, with the most represented nationalities being Indian (11%), Brazilian (10%), Chinese (9%), Nigerian (8%), and American (6%).</p>
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	Mr Shatter said speeding up the application process was a key aim for the coming year.</p>
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	&ldquo;Huge improvements have been made in the citizenship area, visa applications are being processed in a matter of days in the great majority of cases and in the asylum area new applications are processed to completion within months,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p>
	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/more-than-2200-deported-or-turned-back-at-ports-in-2013-254469.html</p>
