The number of International Protection Applicants arriving in Clare appears to be on the decline.
New Government figures show the total number of IPAs residing in this county is now the 12th highest nationwide.
International Protection Applicants are Asylum Seekers who have applied for refugee or subsidiary protection status, and are waiting for a decision to be made on their case.
There are currently 12 centres accommodating International Protection Applicants in Clare, four of these are in the Ennistymon Electoral Area, with two apiece in the electoral areas of Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe and Kilrush.
These vary in type from the commonly seen hotels and b&bs to purpose built Direct Provision Centres like Knockalisheen in Meelick, which is among the largest in the state and includes tented accommodation.
As of the final week in September, there were 942 International Protection Applicants residing here, 38% in North Clare, 10% in East Clare, 22% in South Clare, 22% in the Ennis catchment area and the remaining 8% in West Clare.
There are now 65 fewer protection applicants in Clare, than this time last year, a drop of 7%.
