Vol. 546 No. 3
341 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications received for asylum in 1999, 2000 and 2001; the number of successful applicants; the number refused asylum; the number deported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31721/01]
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statements. Considerable progress is being made in processing asylum applications. I have been informed by the Office of the Refugee Appli cations Commissioner, ORAC, that since July 2001 cases scheduled, processed and completed significantly exceeded intake.
In July, 961 applications were received, 1,473 interviews were scheduled and 1,072 cases processed. In August, 983 applications were received, 1,543 interviews were scheduled and 1,407 cases processed. In September, 855 applications were received, 1,594 interviews scheduled and 1,145 cases processed. In October, 892 applications were received, 1,213 interviews were scheduled and 1,506 cases processed. In November some 880 applications were received, 1,222 interviews were scheduled and approximately 1,736 cases were processed to conclusion.
The figures provide a clear indication that the increase in processing capacity, which has been put in place as part of the Government's strategy, is making a real impact on the backlog of cases on hands and will help to progressively reduce processing times on an incremental basis. As I informed the House in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 110, 125 and 930 of 3 October 2001 and Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 13 November 2001, it is expected that by the end of this year all outstanding cases from 1998 to the end of 2000 will have been scheduled for interview with the overwhelming majority processed to finality. Thus, from the end of this year, the ORAC will effectively focus mainly on applications submitted in 2001.
In relation to appeals, I have been informed by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, that it now expects to complete approximately 3,600 appeals in 2001. As with the ORAC, having regard to the increased processing capacity which has been put in place as part of the Government's strategy, there has been a significant increase in the number of hearings scheduled with over 3,000 hearings expected to be scheduled for 2001 to end of year compared with 1,119 for 2000.
I understand that there are now approximately 4,900 backlog cases, that is, cases which are more than six months old, on hands in ORAC and RAT as at 30 November 2001 and, as I outlined in my replies of 3 October and 13 November, the vast majority of these are in the final stages of processing.
Table 1
Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC
First Instance Decisions/Recommendations
|
Year |
1999 |
2000 |
2001* |
|
Number of asylum applications received |
7,724 |
10,938 |
9,365 |
|
Recommendations/Decisions to grant refugee status |
166 |
211 |
412 |
|
Recommendations to refuse refugee status |
4,806 |
6,183 |
6,145 |
|
Year |
1999 |
2000 |
2001* |
|
Number of Decisions to Grant Refugee Status |
351 |
394 |
448 |
|
Number of First Instance Recommendations/Decision Affirmed, that is, refusals of refugee status. |
656 |
2,486 |
1,984 |
|
Year |
1999 |
2000 |
2001(to date) |
|
Number of Deportation Orders effected |
6 |
187 |
338 |
