Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 7

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

239 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons seeking asylum in this country on a week by week basis from 1 July to date in 1997; the number who have been refused asylum; the number who have been granted asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17062/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The number of persons who have sought asylum in the State since July is set out in the following tabular statement:

Week ending	Applications
4 July	64
11 July	100
18 July	82
25 July	96
1 August	74
8 August	50
15 August	76
22 August	95
29 August	132
5 September	58
12 September	75
19 September	74
26 September	75
3 October	76
10 October	78

The following decisions have been made in respect of asylum applications in the period 1 July to 30 September 1997:

Decision made	Number
Granted refugee status	42
Granted leave to remain on humanitarian grounds	3
Refused refugee status	66

It should be noted that these latter figures do not relate to applications lodged in the same period of time. The processing of asylum applications is, by its nature, a relatively slow process; decisions, therefore, are usually taken some time after applications are lodged.