Committee publication · Correspondence · 1 July 2026

Correspondence with the Home Office relating to asylum claims in Norther Ireland, dated 1 July and 26 March 2026

From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Summary

Correspondence between the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and the Home Office Minister for Border Security regarding asylum data in Northern Ireland. The Committee sought specific figures on asylum applications at Drumkeen House and total claimants residing in Northern Ireland. The Minister provides operational data: 1,517 asylum claims made in Northern Ireland in 2025 (1,480 at Drumkeen House), 2,379 receiving Home Office support as of March 2026, and approximately 1,300 not receiving support as of June 2026. The Home Office commits to improving data transparency and will respond separately on publishing Northern Ireland-specific figures in quarterly statistics.

Key findings

1,517 asylum claims made in Northern Ireland in 2025, with 1,480 associated with Drumkeen House/Belfast Intake Unit
2,379 asylum seekers receiving Home Office support in Northern Ireland as at end of March 2026, with next update due 27 August 2026
Approximately 1,300 asylum claimants recorded as residing in Northern Ireland but not receiving Home Office support as at 16 June 2026
Home Office acknowledges Committee frustration with previous lack of detailed response and commits to publishing Northern Ireland-specific asylum figures in quarterly Immigration System Statistics
Home Office initiated programme to strengthen asylum data coherence through 'single system of truth' following National Audit Office recommendations

Tone

Procedural

Topics

asylumimmigrationpublic-datanorthern-irelandgovernment-transparency

Key actors

Alex Norris MP, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Home Office, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Gordon Summers, Director General for Asylum

Notable line

“The Department does not lack operational visibility or grip of asylum claims made in Northern Ireland.”

Key Quotes

“… my committee was frustrated by the lack of response provided”
— Tonia Antoniazzi MP · expressing dissatisfaction with the Home Office's previous correspondence

“I note the Committee's concerns about the level of detail provided in the Home Office's previous correspondence of 23 March”
— Alex Norris MP · acknowledging the Committee's concerns in his response letter

“The Department recognises the importance of high-quality data in supporting effective scrutiny, decision-making and public confidence.”
— Alex Norris MP · justifying commitment to improving data transparency

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗