Irish people overestimate level of immigration into the country, new research from the ESRI has foundPeople in Ireland overestimate the level of immigration into the country, new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found. A new ESRI report published today analysed misconceptions around immigration. The report found that on average, people believe immigration is happening on a larger scale than it actually is. The ESRI carried out an anonymous online survey measuring people’s attitudes towards immigration, with 1,200 adults talking part. Participants were also asked to estimate facts about immigration, including population, reasons for migration and characteristics like employment and education levels, social housing uptake and share of the prison population.

Source: Irish Independent January 15, 2026 16:04 UTC