Migrants are more likely to be working than Irish-born people but face higher costs, according to research from the ESRI.

New research has shown that many immigrants are going through poverty and are more likely to be hit by high housing costs.

Foreign-born residents are also more likely to be well-educated compared to people born in Ireland.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Senior Policy Officer Keire Murphy said they spend a lot more on housing than Irish citizens.

“When we look at housing affordability, which we define as basically spending more than 30% of your income on housing, 37% of people born outside of Ireland spend more than 30% of their income on housing, which compares with 9% for Irish people,” she said.

“So it's much, much lower for the Irish group.

“When you look at the breakdown between groups, that goes up to 50% for people from outside the EU.”

Annie Moore Statue in Cobh, Ireland. At age 15, along with her 2 brothers were the first immigrants processed at Ellis Island in New York City. Image: Alamy