I propose to take Questions Nos. 842, 843, 844, 845 and 855 together.
In July 2023, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as improving the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
Reforms to the international protection process will continue in 2024. An additional €34m was allocated in Budget 2024 to the International Protection Office (IPO), the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) and related areas to continue to scale up processing.
IPAT’s operational capacity is currently being significantly expanded to meet their increased caseload. Additional resources are being deployed through increasing the number of Tribunal members as well as further recruitment of administrative staff.
Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) are fully independent in determining whether or not to grant international protection applications. Each application is examined individually on its own merits, in line with national and international asylum law.
The table below shows the numbers of appeals received in IPAT in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Appeals Received in International Protection Appeals Tribunal
|
|
|
|
Appeal Type
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
Substantive IP Appeal
|
490
|
790
|
2211
|
Substantive IP Appeal SP only
|
5
|
7
|
2
|
Substantive IP Appeal Asylum only
|
43
|
32
|
27
|
Accelerated IP Appeal
|
184
|
233
|
2191
|
Dublin III Regulation Appeals
|
16
|
22
|
151
|
Inadmissibility Appeals Received (s.21)
|
5
|
79
|
180
|
Total
|
743
|
1163
|
4762
|
In 2023, the IPAT upheld 72% of the IPOs decisions.
The IPAT do not record a breakdown of whether appeals are received by hard copy or email.