Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2023
125. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the all-in projected cost if yearly completed applications through the International Protection Appeals Tribunal were to be increased by 50%, 100% and 200% from the 2023 base number of 3,200, including the recruitment of any staff required to meet this target. [51355/23]
View answer126. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the projected cost of reducing waiting times for decisions from the International Protection Appeals Tribunal by 10%, 25% and 50%, including the recruitment of any staff required to meet this target. [51356/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.
My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly and efficiently, as part of the broader Government response to this challenging issue.
The number of international protection applications last year was 13,651, a significant increase on recent years. This represents a 186% increase on the number received in 2019, the most recent year in which application numbers were not impacted by Covid-19.
In July this year, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as improving the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants. This will give status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who are deemed not entitled to international protection.
The target of the International Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) is that all new substantive International Protection Appeals be processed within 6 months from the date of receipt of the required documents. This has regard to certain statutory timeframes around the appeals process. The time taken to complete an appeal varies based on the type of appeal.
The median processing times for appeals is down from 15 months at the beginning of 2022 to five months in 2023.
In light of the increased numbers of applications to the International Protection Office, and the emerging increase in appeals to IPAT, additional staff were allocated to the IPAT in 2023.
The Budgetary provision for IPAT for 2023 was €5.999m based on an output target of completing 3,200 International Protection Appeals.
The resources provided to the IPAT are on the basis of it being able to process appeals in a timely manner, within the identified target timeframe of 6-months. The fee per appeal paid to a part-time member of the IPAT to deal with a case is based on a fixed amount per appeal with reference to the type of appeal and related factors. Having regard to the variable factors impacting on processing and the range of case types, and having particular regard to the varying level of applications and appeals over time, it is not possible to precisely correlate a change in the processing times with a calculation of costs and staff, in the manner identified.
