Vol. 483 No. 6
48 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has consulted with the UN High Commission for Refugees on the unimplemented Refugee Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21177/97]
59 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has consulted with the UN High Commission for Refugees on the unimplemented Refugee Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21178/97]
62 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he has taken to date to ensure the implementation of the Refugee Act, 1996; the progress, if any, made in negotiations with staff representatives over the appointment of extra staff to process the backlog of asylum-seeker applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21237/97]
67 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has consulted with the UN High Commission for Refugees on the unimplemented Refugee Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21176/97]
109 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the developments, if any, which have taken place regarding the implementation of the Refugee Act, 1996 since 21 October 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20970/97]
120 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current position regarding the processing of applications under the Refugee Act, 1996; the issues, if any, regarding refugees which have been brought to his attention; the total Government expenditure on refugees to date in 1997; the total expenditure of his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20946/97]
359 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total expenditure to date in 1997 on asylum seekers; if he will give a breakdown of expenditure by his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21114/97]
361 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details of the number of staff currently processing applications for asylum from asylum-seekers; the increase, if any, in the staffing complement which will be necessary to clear the backlog in applications from asylum-seekers; and the cost involved in clearing this backlog. [21485/97]
378 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the additional number of staff that are likely to be appointed to speed up the process of applications under the Refugee Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21117/97]
379 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the personnel numbers in his Department that process applications by asylum seekers for refugee status; the current period of time for these applications to be processed; the likely improvement, if any, in processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21118/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 59, 62, 67, 109, 120, 359, 361, 378 and 379 together.
I would refer Deputies to my reply to Question No. 23 today. In addition to the material contained in that reply, I would add that it is not possible for me to put a cost on the provision of services to asylum seekers. In addition to adminstration costs borne by my Department, costs for services provided to asylum seekers and refugees would be borne by a number of Departments — Education and Science, Environment and Local Government, Health and Children, and Social, Community and Family Affairs. The abridged Book of Estimates contains a figure of £625,000 as being the revised figure for the administration of the asylum process in my Department for 1997. Included in the Estimates for my Department for 1998 is a sum of £4.168 million for the administration of the asylum process.
