Almost 2,000 asylum seekers who arrived in Ireland in the first four months of this year arrived with either false or no travel documents.
The figures have been released to Newstalk Chief Reporter Barry Whyte by the Department of Justice via a Freedom of Information request.
Barry told The Pat Kenny Show what the figures show.
Between December last year and April this year, 1,465 asylum seekers arrived into Dublin Airport with no travel documents - while 354 arrived with false documents in the same period.
In the first four months of the year, 3,628 asylum seekers arrived here - meaning 34% of all asylum seekers had no or fake travel documents.
Source: Department of JusticeThese figures could be even higher, as not all international protection applicants arrive through Dublin Airport.
The Department of Justice has said they have no record of how many asylum seekers are arriving here through Northern Ireland.
More asylum seekers are travelling to Belfast, and then making their way to Dublin to claim asylum.
'This country can protect you'
Omar, who had been living in France but is originally from Tunisia, arrived in Ireland five days ago.
He said he paid a people smuggler €1,000 to come here by boat in a container via Belfast.
"I come to Ireland now four days and I was on the street," he said.
"All people sleeping on the street in the tents.
"At night all cafes are closed, all restaurants are closed - you be in the street.
"It's very difficult".
Omar said he left France as he had a "problem in my country, and these people follow me."
He said he came here in a container from Belgium to Belfast.
"I come in on the boat, I stay six days on the boat, from a container.
"Some people die in the container.
"I like to come here because you can work, this country can protect your life if you have a problem or something.
"I come here for this," he added.
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