The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) has called for Government funding after a rise in demand for its information and support services.
The council said 4,500 people had sought help in the year to end of July, a 72 per cent increase on the figures for the previous 12-month period. The average number of queries jumped from 214 per month in the previous year to 375 per month during this period.
Sr Stanislaus Kennedy
This massive increase has prompted the non-governmental agency to call for Government funding to give it the resources to continue its work.
People from over 130 different countries accessed the service, the majority residing in Ireland with some enquiries from outside the State.
According to the organisation, this jump in demand occurred in the context of a number of substantial changes in immigration policies and procedures that took place from mid 2004 to mid 2005, about which people sought information and clarification.
On top of the thousands of requests for information and advice from individuals the council also received inquiries from over 250 different organisations, including both statutory and non-statutory bodies.
Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) chairwoman Sister Stanislaus Kennedy said: "Of course we welcome these inquiries. However, the high demand for our service - which has increased at an unprecedented rate this year, and is set to continue - highlights again the need for Government to provide adequate funding for such a service."
According to the ICI, more than 50 per cent of queries related to gaining longer term or residence status, while other big concerns for immigrants included family reunification rights and permission to work.
Sr Kennedy added: "The fact that the issue of permanency was by far the main query shows that many people who come to Ireland are not transient, they want to settle in Ireland for a longer period than is possible at present and continue to contribute to society economically, socially and culturally."
The ICI urged the Government to concentrate in 2006 on implementing a positive, rights-based immigration policy to ensure Ireland had successful integration and did not witness scenes similar to those in France in recent days.
It said that there are still very few routes to permanent residency in Ireland.
Minister for Social Affairs Seamus Brennan
The organisation also called on the Government to set down the law in relation to family reunification - an area where there are currently no automatic rights - and increase sanctions on employers who exploit migrant workers.
Speaking at the release of the ICI's figures, Minister for Social Affairs Seamus Brennan TD said that a section of immigrant law was under review and unveiled a series of new information factsheets for immigrants.
These factsheets contain updated, accessible information on immigrants' rights and guidelines on how to negotiate the complex immigration system in Ireland. The information is provided in Arabic, Chinese, French, Romanian and Russian in addition to English.
"I am delighted that the Department's Information Services provided funding of €60,000 to the Immigrant Council of Ireland for the publication of an Information Guide Book on Immigrant rights and entitlements in Ireland and €60,000 for the translation of the Guide Book into several languages," Minister Brennan said.
He went on to indicate that he was aware of concerns about the requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland, which was introduced in May 2004, to qualify for certain social welfare and child benefit.
"A review the operation of the Habitual Residence Condition is being carried out at present by my officials," he added.