Vol. 497 No. 4
64 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seeker applications for refugee status; the comparison figures for each of the years from 1993 to 1997; his Department's policy in relation to the processing time of these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24964/98]
The number of applications for refugee status and the comparison figures for each of the years from 1993 to 1997 are as follows: 1993, 91; 1994, 362; 1995, 424; 1996, 1,179; 1997, 3,883; 1998 (20/11/98), 4,210.
My Department has concentrated on ensuring that the oldest applications are given priority in scheduling cases from the backlog for interview, while simultaneously dealing with new applicants as soon as possible after their arrival in the State.
It is difficult to assess the actual average time from start to finish of the asylum determination process. However, it is my hope that with the additional staff recruited to my Department's asylum division, the new refugee legal service and three appeals authorities considering appeals in the refugee applications centre, Mount Street, from January 1999 onwards, new cases will be finalised in a matter of months.
