The financial allocation for "third country nationals" (immigrants) under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice is to rise to €5 million next year from €932,000 this year, the financial estimates show.

The estimates were published with the budget speech yesterday.

A spokesman for the ministry said some of the funds will go for the recruitment of personnel but major refurbishment of Lyster Barracks detention centre is also planned.

Some of these funds previously used to appear under the estimates of the Ministry of Social Policy. The amount also includes the allocation to the AFM.

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