Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
Ivor Callely
Question:
112
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the total number of asylum seekers currently in Ireland; if he will indicate the number of asylum applications that have been made; the average processing period for such applications; the measures which can be taken to improve the processing period; the estimated percentage of asylum applications that are likely to be genuine and meet the criteria to qualify for refugee status; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15416/00]
At 31 May 2000, there were 22,978 applications made in the State since 1992. A breakdown of this figure is contained in the following tabular statement. A total of 12,063 applications were outstanding on 30 April, 2000 (the figures for 31 May, 2000 are not yet available).
|
Year
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
31/05/2000
|
|
Total
|
39
|
91
|
362
|
424
|
1,179
|
3,883
|
4,626
|
7,724
|
4,650
|
The current processing time for processing asylum applications from initial application stage to the determination of an appeal, in cases where applicants avail of the opportunity to appeal, takes between four months, manifestly unfounded cases, and two years. In cases where there is no appeal the processing time is between four to 15 months. If there is a further challenge to a deportation order and/or the asylum process, the period could extend to a further 12 to 14 months.
The aim of my Department is to minimise the time taken from the date of application to completion of the procedure in a refugee determination process which meets the highest EU and international standards and enables applications to be processed within six months.
A working group was established in February in the asylum operations division of my Department to examine the issue of the use of accelerated procedures to deal speedily with cases which are manifestly well founded and manifestly unfounded. Arising from the deliberations of the group, workshops have been held with the relevant staff in the case processing area of the asylum division. Instructions have issued concerning the use of such procedures. Manifestly well founded cases will be identified at an early stage to ensure that a person who is likely to succeed in the asylum process gets the benefit of refugee status as soon as possible without being unnecessarily delayed.
Manifestly unfounded procedures will help to eliminate, at an early stage, applications which appear to have little or no relevance to the definition of a refugee in section 2 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended.
Of the 6,619 decisions made at first stage since 1992, 608, 9%, were granted refugee status and 6,011, 91%, were refused. A total of 4,535, 75% of those refused, have availed of the opportunity to appeal following refusal.
Of the 4,535 appeals, 527 of those determined, 32%, have been granted and 1,125, 68% of those determined have been refused; some 422 cases were withdrawn. Decisions on the remainder have still to be finalised. While the percentage of people granted refugee status following appeal is 31% on average, it should be noted that an overall percentage of 25% would be more accurate if those who do not avail of the opportunity to appeal, those who withdraw from the process or whose applications are deemed to be abandoned are taken into account.
