Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

31 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for asylum received since the beginning of 2001; the number of applications processed in that period; the decisions made; the number of deportation orders made in that period; the number of such deportations carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32091/01]

Ivor Callely

Question:

220 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum applications which have been made to date in 2001; the processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31774/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 220 together.

The information sought by the Deputies is set out in the following tabular statements. I refer the Deputies to my replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 110, 125 and 930 of 3 October 2001, No. 109 of 13 November 2001 and No. 341 of 11 December 2001.

Current statistics clearly indicate that significant progress has been made in relation to the processing of asylum applications and 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. This is evidenced by the fact that the number of backlog cases – that is, cases which are over six months old – on hands in Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal as at 30 November 2001 is now down to approximately 4,900, the vast majority of which are in the final stages of processing.

Tabular Statements

(1 January, 2001 to 30 November, 2001)

Table 1

Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC)

First Instance Recommendations

Number of asylum applications received	9,365
Number of applications processed	10,950
Recommendations to grant refugee status	412
Recommendations to refuse refugee status	6,145
Withdrawals processed and determinations for transfer to other countries under the Dublin Convention	4,400

Table 2

Refugee Appeals Tribunal

Decisions at Appeal Stage

(1) Number of Appeals Received	3,558
(2) Number of Appeals Completed*	3,228
(3) Number of Decisions to Grant Refugee Status**	448
(4) Number of ORAC Recommendations Set(4) Aside ***	623
(5) Number of ORAC Recommendations Affirmed	1,984

* The difference between row (2) and rows (3) to (5) is mainly due to the number of withdrawals.

** These are defined, under the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, as Substantive "Set Asides".

*** Substantive "Set Asides", i.e. (3) above, are included in this figure; when Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) recommendations (Manifestly Unfounded (167 cases) and Dublin Convention (1 Case)) are set aside by the RAT, the cases are referred back to the ORAC for full consideration under section 11 of the Refugee Act, 1996 as amended.

Table 3

Deportation Orders (as at 7/12/01)

Number of Deportation Orders signed	1,898
Number of Deportation Orders effected	338