Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 4

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Willie Penrose

Question:

126 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for asylum received during 2002 and to date in 2003; the number of applications upheld by the Refugee Appeals Commission; the number of appeals submitted to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; the number of such appeals upheld; the number of applications for leave to remain; the number of such applications granted; the number of deportation orders made; the number of such deportations carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23379/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The information requested is contained in the following tables:

Table 1: Number of applications received and the number of recommendations by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner to grant Refugee Status (at first instance) in 2002 and 2003 (30/09/03)

	2002	2003 (30/09)
Number of applications received	11,634	6,662
Number of recommendations to grant refugee status issued by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner*	893	276

*It is assumed that the reference in the Deputy's Question to "Refugee Appeals Commission" refers to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.

Table 2: Number of appeals submitted to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and the number upheld (at appeal stage) in 2002 and 2003 (30/09/03)

	2002	2003 (30/09)
Number of appeals received by Refugee Appeals Tribunal*	5,101	3,762
Number of appeals upheld by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (granted refugee status)*	1,100	633

*Substantive cases

Table 3: Number of Deportation Orders Signed and Number Effected in 2002 and 2003 (30/09)

	2002	2003 (30/09)
Number of Deportations Orders Signed	2,430	1,767
Number of Deportation Orders Effected	521	398

Table 4: Number of Applications for Leave to Remain received from current or former asylum applicants

	2002	2003 (30/09)
Number of Applications Received	6,887	1,226

Table 5: Number of Applications granted for Leave to Remain by category

	2002	2003 (30/09)
Parentage of Irish Born Child	3,113	172
Marriage to an Irish National	86	85
Dependant of EU Citizen	138	65
Humanitarian Grounds	159	70