The Minister for Justice has told a Dáil Committee that the vast majority of people who apply for asylum here are found not be to genuine cases.
Michael McDowell told the Joint Committee on Justice that 50% of those who apply for asylum abandon their efforts shortly afterwards.
The Minister added that serious financial resources were being diverted as a result.
He said that the Department of Justice last year spent €47m on processing asylum applications. He put the cost to other government departments at €330m.
