There were 1,250 Irish “illegals” in Australia as of June 30 this year. The Department of Immigration has stepped up efforts to find the overstayers and deport them. (Pic: Stock image)

Figures just published reveal that over a fifth of people who had their working holiday visa cancelled over the past three years were Irish.

The cancellations, reports the Sydney Morning Herald, were mainly as a result of fradulent information in applications for first or second working holiday visas.

Elsewhere, new figures obtained by the Irish Echo reveal that overstayer figures pertaining to Irish citizens have remained steady in the past six months.

The Department of Immigration revealed that there were 1,250 Irish overstayers living in Australia as of June 30, 2012, an increase of ten on the figure from December 31, 2011.

People who overstay the terms of their visa run the risk of being deported.

There are currently three Irish nationals being held in detention centres in Australia.

They include a female backpacker who was caught when Department of Immigration officials raided a property in Perth on July 26.

The government has revealed plans to clamp down on employers who hire illegal workers, thus making it harder for overstayers to continue working and living in Australia.

“Illegal workers undermine the integrity of Australia’s migration programme, reduce work opportunities for Australians, and expose vulnerable workers to exploitation,” said Immigration minister Chris Bowen.