Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
885. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide in tabular form the number of staff across the various division in international protection sections for each year 2020, 2021 and 2022. [37005/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to reducing processing times for international protection applicants and is taking steps to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Staffing figures in the International Protection Office are set out in the below table.
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Number of staff |
148 |
178 |
214 |
344 |
Staffing figures in the International Protection Appeals Tribunal are set out in the table below
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Number of staff |
47 |
51 |
47 |
58 |
Significant investment in human resources and other modernisation initiatives is underway with a view to reducing processing times for international protection applicants, ensuring that those in need of protection receive that status without undue delay, while those that do not qualify are advised of this in good time.
The International Protection Office has also developed a Modernisation Strategy for 2023/2024. The key objective of the strategy is that the IPO will further increase outputs throughout 2023, while significantly accelerating certain categories of cases, and continually improving the quality of decision making.
Staff numbers have already increased by 66% since December 2022, from 214 to 344 staff assigned. The IPO intends to further increase resources to 430 staff by the end of the year.
In addition to the above assigned staffing numbers, case processing Panel Members are contracted by the Department to make recommendations on International Protection cases to the International Protection Office. The number of panel members to be recruited in the IPO and IPAT will also be increased during 2023.
These resources will be supported by increased training and quality control support from the UNHCR. This expansion in human resources has already resulted in a substantial increase in the number of recommendations made.
IPAT’s operational capacity is also currently being significantly expanded to meet their increased caseload. Additional resources are being deployed through increasing the number of Tribunal members as well as further recruitment of administrative staff. This is proceeding on a phased basis throughout 2023 and into 2024. IPAT staff numbers have increased by 11% since December 2022, from 47 to 58 staff assigned and further resources will be assigned in 2023 and into 2024.
The Deputy may also wish to know that my Department has created a new website to provide a detailed overview of the International Protection process in Ireland which can be accessed at:
www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/304ba-international-protection/
This site also provides detailed statistics and metrics in relation to processing of applications for protection. These statistics will be published on a monthly basis.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/48a28-international-protection-in-numbers/
