Asylum Applications.

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Questions (246, 247)

Denis Naughten

Question:

304 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum applicants residing here at the end of 2001 who were still awaiting a final decision on their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46194/08]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern)

As the Deputy will be aware, applications for asylum in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted.

At 31 December 2001, there were 8,483 asylum applications pending at first instance in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and 2,775 asylum applications pending at appeal stage in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

Denis Naughten

Question:

305 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum applicants who submitted an application for protection in each of the years 2002 to 2008 inclusive; the number of applicants reaching the completion of the process in each year concerned; the number of applicants awaiting a decision at the end of each year concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46195/08]

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Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern)

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to asylum applications received in Ireland is set out in the following tables:

Table 1: Asylum applications received 2002-2008 (30/11)

Year	Applications Received
2002	11,634
2003	7,900
2004	4,766
2005	4,323
2006	4,314
2007	3,985
2008 (30/11)	3,566

Table 2: Asylum Applications completed at First Instance and at Appeal Stage 2002-2008 (31/10)*

Year	First Instance	Appeal Stage	Total
2002	15,201	5,283	20,484
2003	8,641	4,767	13,408
2004	7,121	6,279	13,400
2005	5,682	4,021	9,703
2006	4,784	1,943	6,727
2007	4,152	1,883	6,035
2008 (31/10)	3,847	2,062	5,909

*Please note that the figures in the table refer to the year in which the decision was made and not the year of application.

Table 3: The number of asylum applications pending at the end of each year 2002-2008 (31/10)

Year	First Instance	Appeal Stage	Total
2002	5,094	2,582	7,676
2003	4,554	2,835	7,389
2004	2,350	1,281	3,631
2005	1,169	1,200	2,369
2006	924	2,415	3,339
2007	1,279	3,056	4,335
2008 (31/10)	1,231	3,507	4,738