Written Answers Nos. 112-120
112. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her views regarding the Irish Travellers Access to Justice report (details supplied); what recommendations her Department have committed to implementing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51243/23]
View answerMy Department’s vision is of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland. This report will be a valuable contribution to the evidence base available to inform future policy development in this regard. While it is clear that there is more to be done, significant work is underway across the justice sector to develop better relationships with the Traveller community.
An Garda Síochána is committed to providing a human-rights focused policing service that protects the rights of all people with whom they come into contact. This is at the heart of the Garda Code of Ethics and the Garda Decision Making Model, and has been spoken about repeatedly by Commissioner Harris, who has put a strong organisational focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.
The Gardaí are seeking to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the purpose of policing in Ireland and have demonstrated this in recent years through the work of the Garda National Diversity & Integration Unit (GNDIU), and publication of an EDI Strategy and Action Plan.
An Garda Síochána ran their first diversity internship programme in 2022 aimed at highlighting pathways to employment in the organisation for minority communities, including Travellers. The programme received a highly commended award in the Inclusion & Diversity - large organisation category at the CIPD HR Awards 2023. I am pleased to say that sixteen participants commenced the second programme in June 2023.
Gardaí continue to develop good relationships with the Traveller Community and its representative bodies through initiatives such as the establishment of a Garda-Traveller Advisory Group, Garda-Traveller Dialogue Days, and Traveller representative groups assisting in providing training for Garda recruits and Garda members.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 recognises that disadvantage and diversity issues underlie involvement of children and young people with the criminal justice system. The strategy commits to ensuring that Youth Diversion Projects reach all relevant young people in the community, including those from Traveller and Roma communities.
In the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which I launched in June of last year, the Traveller community is identified as a group requiring special measures. It recognises the need to reflect the lived experiences of particular cohorts of victims/survivors, including Travellers, and acknowledges the additional risks factors created by overlapping forms of discrimination. There are a number of actions in the Strategy including work to increase access by Traveller women to domestic violence refuges, and the establishment of a specialised group, which will advise on all interventions in terms of intersectionality and inclusivity for socially excluded groups including Travellers and Roma.
My Department is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support victims of crime, including members of the Traveller community. When victims of crime begin to engage with the justice system, they should know what to expect, what their legally enforceable rights are, and the supports available at every step in the process. We are working to increase and strengthen the level of supports available and to ensure that victims are aware of, and receive, those supports.
These initiatives are, of course, in addition to ongoing work to support vulnerable victims through the implementation of Supporting a Victims Journey. Work in this area includes the establishment of a course - at University of Limerick - to train intermediaries. The O’Malley Report commits to the introduction of intermediaries whose role is to assist in the communication process, whether between lawyers and witnesses during trial or, earlier, during police interviews. In this respect, their role is somewhat akin to that of an interpreter and the intermediary’s loyalty is to the court.
Separately, the Department is also funding the Traveller women in prison project with the National Traveller Women’s Forum - a trauma-informed flexible model of support designed to meet the wide range of needs of Traveller women as well as their families.
I would also reference the important role of the Judicial Council in ensuring public trust and confidence in the judiciary. The Judicial Studies Committee has been established to deliver regular judicial training, including on judicial conduct and ethics, as well as highlighting unconscious bias and treatment of vulnerable witnesses. It is also worth noting that the Judicial Complaints process, provided for in the Judicial Council Act 2019, has recently been commenced. This represents the first time in the history of the State that procedures will be put in place to facilitate complaints about alleged judicial misconduct, which will promote public confidence in the judiciary and the administration of justice.
In 2021, the Probation Service published its Strategy Statement with inclusion firmly placed at the centre of their vision and work. As a core pillar of their Strategy, the Service is striving to become a more inclusive organisation by delivering fair and accessible services to all who come into contact with the Probation Service. They see it as their duty to identify and seek to remove barriers that may prevent reintegration, rehabilitation and access to life opportunities, enabling each of us to fully and positively participate in society, and incorporate working with the Traveller Community as an integral element of this.
The Probation Service partnered with the Irish Prison Service and St Stephens Green Trust to establish the Travellers in Prison Initiative which has been instrumental in helping the Probation Service address some of the key challenges and difficulties being experienced by travellers under probation supervision.
To address the matter of racist language and other forms of racism towards Travellers and those of other ethnicities/races, the Irish Prison Service incorporates training programmes to emphasise the need to treat prisoners as individuals, with humanity and respect and to act within the law at all times as part of the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care course for recruit prison officers and as part of continuous professional development for established staff. In addition, anti-racism campaigns are run throughout the year.
As is clear from the above, there are considerable efforts underway across the justice sector to ensure that the Traveller community have their rights upheld in all scenarios. The valuable report referred to by the Deputy provides an evidence base for the further development of policy to achieve this goal.
113. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí operating out of Cashel town Garda station; the opening hours of the station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51279/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner also determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State under Section 33 of the Act. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions and am unable to seek to direct the Commissioner with regards to the opening hours of any Garda station or assigning Gardaí to individual stations.
I am advised that the distribution of resources is kept under continual review by Garda management, in light of identified operational demands.
The Clare/Tipperary Division operates under the Garda Operating Model since the end of August, which is being introduced by the Commissioner as part of A Policing Service for the Future, which is the implementation plan based on the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
The restructure reflects international best practice as well as the realities of modern day policing in Ireland, the changing nature of crime and population trends.
It includes restructuring at national, regional and local levels to provide a greater focus on community policing based on local needs. The new model introduces major changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána by providing a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.
It will particularly enhance the investigation of crime through the delivery of a greater range of specialised services in local areas, such as the investigation of sexual crime, domestic violence, cyber-crime, and economic crime.
I am advised that as of 31 October, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 11 Garda members assigned to Cashel Garda Station (10 Gardaí and 1 Sergeant). The station is open to the public Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
The station is a part of the Tipperary South Community Engagement Functional Area, which provides the policing service for South Tipperary.
114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the reason visa applications were determined not valid in the case of persons (details supplied); if the applications can be appealed; if new applications are advisable at this point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51317/23]
View answerThe persons referred to by the Deputy created on-line Short Stay 'C' visa applications on 18 June 2023.
Upon creating an on-line visa application, the summary sheet must be printed and signed by the applicant and then submitted to the relevant visa office, along with supporting documentation & the relevant fee, within 30 days. Only upon receipt of the necessary documentation & fee, can the visa application be processed.
As no supporting documentation and or fees were supplied within the 30 days, these applications are deemed inactive. It is open to the persons referred to by the Deputy to make a fresh application at any time.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:
www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
115. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of WTE staff, by grade, working in the International Protection Office as of 16 November 2023; and the corresponding figures as of 31 January 2022, in tabular form. [51325/23]
View answerMy 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.
In July this year, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. As part of this programme, a number of measures have been implemented to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with improvements to the application, interview and decision-making process.
The number of staff in the IPO has increased by 89% this year from 206 to 389. The extra staff assigned has seen a doubling of decisions in the IPO this year 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.
In addition to IPO staff, 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 International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) will continue to be increased for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024.
These panel members 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.
The data the Deputy requested on staff working at the IPO is detailed in the table below.
|
- |
31 January 2022 Headcount |
31 January 2022 WTE |
8 November 2023 Headcount |
8 November 2023 WTE |
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
PO |
1 |
1.0 |
3 |
3.0 |
|
AP |
7 |
7.0 |
16 |
16.0 |
|
HEO |
35 |
33.5 |
54 |
51.9 |
|
AO |
4 |
4.0 |
35 |
35.0 |
|
EO |
69 |
66.3 |
187 |
180.0 |
|
CO |
59 |
57.9 |
93 |
89.6 |
|
Total |
176 |
170.7 |
389.0 |
376.5 |
116. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if a new recruitment campaign for prison nurses will be launched early in the new year. [51327/23]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service continually monitors staffing requirements and vacancies across the organisation, which arise as a result of multiple factors such as mobility, resignations, promotions and retirements. Recruitment campaigns are launched accordingly.
Previous Prison Nurse recruitment campaigns have resulted in the successful placement of Prison Nurses across the estate. Recruitment of Prison Nurses is currently live in conjunction with CPL Healthcare. Applications for the position of Prison Nurse can be made through the CPL website cplhealthcare.com/irish-prison-service-jobs/ and recruitment is on a rolling basis.
117. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants, number of initial decisions, number of appeals, number of appeal decisions, number of JRs, and the decision outcome, positive and negative with respect to international protection by type of status, for the years 2013 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [51347/23]
View answerMy Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
The number of international protection applications last year was 13,650, a significant increase on recent years. It represents a 186% increase on the number received in 2019, the most recent year in which application numbers were not impacted by Covid-19. To end of October 2023 the IPO has received 10,386 international protection applications.
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 do not meet the criteria.
Already these reforms are having a significant impact with the median processing time for first-instance decisions reducing from 18 months in 2022 down to 15 months in 2023. The median processing times for appeals is also down from 15 months at the beginning of 2022 to five months in 2023.
As part of this modernisation programme, I also signed a regulation in November 2022 to introduce an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries of origin. These applicants now typically receive a first instance decision in less than three months, which is a significant reduction from a norm of 22 to 26 months early last year.
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015.
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal's (IPAT) 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.
The table attached details the data requested by the Deputy including number of applicants, number of initial decisions, number of appeals, number of appeal decisions, number of JRs, and the decision outcome positive and negative with respect to international protection by type of status, for the years 2017 to 2022 and to date in 2023.
Statistics before 2017 are not easily available in the manner sought as data would have to be extracted from a number of legacy systems. With the introduction of the International Protection Act in 2016 and the creation of the International Protection Office a new database allows for easier collation of data in more recent years.
Appeals with Appeal Type (2017 - Oct 2023)
|
year_appeal |
Total |
|||||||
|
appeal_type |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Accelerated IP Appeal |
1 |
4 |
219 |
374 |
184 |
236 |
1700 |
2718 |
|
Accelerated IP Appeal - Asylum only |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin 111 |
5 |
155 |
148 |
55 |
17 |
22 |
116 |
518 |
|
Inadmissible Appeal |
10 |
16 |
26 |
15 |
5 |
79 |
153 |
304 |
|
Legacy - Asylum Appeal |
22 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
|
NA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
|
SP Appeal - Legacy |
128 |
49 |
31 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
216 |
|
Subsequent Appeal |
40 |
33 |
40 |
47 |
13 |
12 |
5 |
190 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal |
610 |
1719 |
1543 |
714 |
499 |
795 |
1746 |
7626 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal - Asylum only |
34 |
132 |
88 |
68 |
54 |
32 |
25 |
433 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal - SP only |
59 |
52 |
13 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
133 |
|
Total |
909 |
2160 |
2108 |
1279 |
775 |
1183 |
3751 |
12165 |
Appeal Decisions with Appeal Type (2017 - Oct 2023)
|
year_decision |
|||||||||
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|||
|
appeal_type |
|||||||||
|
Accelerated IP Appeal |
decision |
Affirmed decision - Asylum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
52 |
147 |
171 |
269 |
369 |
||
|
Affirmed decision - Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Asylum |
0 |
0 |
8 |
14 |
51 |
64 |
78 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Subsidiary Protection (SP) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
5 |
||
|
Subsequent - Set Aside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
|
Dublin 111 |
decision |
(No Categorized) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
|
Dublin 3 - Affirmed |
0 |
16 |
132 |
86 |
12 |
20 |
23 |
||
|
Dublin 3 - Set Aside |
0 |
5 |
19 |
17 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Asylum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Dublin III - Legacy |
decision |
Granted/Set Aside |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Refused/Affirmed |
210 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Void |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Inadmissable Appeal |
decision |
Inadmissible - Affirmed |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Refused/Affirmed |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Inadmissible Appeal |
decision |
(No Categorized) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
||
|
Inadmissible - Affirmed |
0 |
0 |
5 |
17 |
10 |
12 |
105 |
||
|
Inadmissible - Set Aside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
10 |
||
|
Legacy - Asylum Appeal |
decision |
Granted/Set Aside - Asylum |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
NA |
decision |
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
SP Appeal - Legacy |
decision |
Granted/Set Aside |
42 |
19 |
10 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
Refused/Affirmed |
190 |
58 |
30 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
||
|
Void |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Subsequent Appeal |
decision |
Granted/Set Aside - Asylum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Subsequent - Affirmed |
3 |
36 |
26 |
15 |
20 |
12 |
3 |
||
|
Subsequent - Set Aside |
7 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
16 |
9 |
0 |
||
|
Substantive IP Appeal |
decision |
(No Categorized) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Abandoned |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
|
Affirmed decision - Asylum |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
||
|
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
75 |
585 |
1124 |
472 |
444 |
471 |
408 |
||
|
Affirmed decision - Subsidiary protection |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Asylum |
15 |
240 |
412 |
248 |
265 |
362 |
231 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Subsidiary Protection (SP) |
0 |
27 |
41 |
18 |
15 |
24 |
19 |
||
|
Inadmissible - Affirmed |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||
|
Inadmissible - Set Aside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
||
|
Subsequent - Set Aside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
||
|
Substantive IP Appeal - Asylum only |
decision |
Affirmed decision - Asylum |
12 |
2 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
|
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
Affirmed decision - Subsidiary protection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Asylum |
4 |
5 |
19 |
9 |
15 |
22 |
4 |
||
|
Substantive IP Appeal - SP only |
decision |
Affirmed decision - Asylum and Subsidiary protection |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Affirmed decision - Subsidiary protection |
6 |
46 |
25 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
||
|
Granted/Set Aside - Subsidiary Protection (SP) |
8 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
||
International Protection JRs 2017 to 2023 (to end Oct)
|
Year |
No. of JRs |
|
2017 |
184 |
|
2018 |
215 |
|
2019 |
231 |
|
2020 |
249 |
|
2021 |
88 |
|
2022 |
74 |
|
2023 |
185 |
118. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the dedicated staffing and financial allocations of each of the decision-making divisions/bodies in the international protection process in each of the years 2013 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [51348/23]
View answerA breakdown of headcount in functions involved in processing international protection applications from 2015 to 2023 up to 8 November 2023 is set out in the table below. Statistics before 2015 are not easily available in the manner sought as data would have to be extracted from a number of legacy systems.
|
- |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
The International Protection Office (IPO) (Formally the Office of Refugee Applications Commissioner) |
88 |
124 |
140 |
144 |
143 |
148 |
180 |
212 |
389 |
|
International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) (formally the Refugee Appeals Tribunal) |
37 |
40 |
44 |
48 |
50 |
47 |
52 |
47 |
63 |
*As of 8 November 2023. Please note all data provided is correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
In addition to staff, the IPO appoint appropriately qualified panel members to carry out a range of duties including carrying out interviews with applicants and producing reports detailing an applicant’s case for consideration by IPO staff. Following a comprehensive recruitment programme, the number of IPO panel members is on target to reach 160 by year end (December 2022: 72). In IPAT, full and part-time Tribunal Members consider appeals and make decisions in respect of appeals. There are 66 Tribunal Members (December 2022: 47).
In 2020 the Department of Justice implemented a transformation programme. As a result the costs from 2020 onward that are related to the international protection process are not directly comparable with the costs incurred prior to that point, as a number of expenditure areas were restructured as core departmental functions.
The table below details data on financial allocations to the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) since 2013.
|
Year |
IPO |
IPAT |
Total |
|
|
€000's |
€000's |
€000's |
|
2013 |
4,594 |
3,980 |
8,574 |
|
2014 |
5,626 |
4,673 |
10,299 |
|
2015 |
6,095 |
3,902 |
9,996 |
|
2016 |
6,930 |
4,880 |
11,810 |
|
2017 |
7,159 |
3,793 |
10,951 |
|
2018 |
8,372 |
3,707 |
12,078 |
|
2019 |
10,314 |
4,243 |
14,557 |
|
2020 |
8,155 |
3,305 |
11,460 |
|
2021 |
8,204 |
3,370 |
11,574 |
|
2022 |
11,864 |
3,254 |
15,118 |
|
YTD SEP 2023 |
15,392 |
2,699 |
18,091 |
Notes:
As part of the 2020 transformation programme IPO salary costs were included in Immigration Service Delivery salaries and an estimated adjustment has been made to include those values.
All data provided is correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
The Deputy may also wish to know that the Department’s website provides a detailed overview of the International Protection process in Ireland as well as monthly statistics and metrics on the processing of international protection applications. These can be accessed at:
www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/304ba-international-protection/.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/48a28-international-protection-in-numbers/.
119. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the shortest, longest and average decision time for each step of the international protection process for the years 2013 to 2022 and to date in 2023, broken down by those on the safe countries list versus those that are not, in tabular form. [51349/23]
View answerMy 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 13,650, a significant increase on recent years. It 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 do not meet the criteria.
Already these reforms are having a significant impact with the median processing time for first-instance decisions reducing from 18 months in 2022 down to 15 months in 2023. The median processing times for appeals is also down from 15 months at the beginning of 2022 to five months in 2023.
As part of this modernisation programme, I also signed a regulation in November 2022 to introduce an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries of origin. These applicants now typically receive a first instance decision in less than three months, which is a significant reduction from a norm of 22 to 26 months early last year.
Reforms to the international protection process will continue in 2024. Approximately €34m was allocated in budget 2024 to the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) to continue to scale up processing.
The data the Deputy requested regarding application decision times is detailed in the attached document.
It should be noted that in the very small number of cases with unusually long processing times, these are typically attributable to circumstances outside of the control of the Department. The reasons for such extended delays in processing can include an applicant who may have an ongoing Judicial Review, certain applicants may be uncontactable or missing, or may be a child with a separate application where a parent has already received a decision but contact has not been maintained with the Department, and some applicants may not be co-operating with the application process itself. Arrangements have been put in place to appropriately resolve such cases without further delay wherever feasible.
92% of cases decided in 2022 were processed in 3 years or less and 62% of cases decided in 2022 were processed in 2 years or less.
Notes:
- Statistics before 2017 are not easily available in the manner sought as data would have to be extracted from a number of legacy systems. With the introduction of the International Protection Act in 2016 and the creation of the International Protection Office a new database allows for easier collation of data in more recent years.
- Figures shown are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
|
IPO Application Process Times in Months |
||||||||||||||
|
IPO Determination Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (up to 31st Oct) |
|||||||
|
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
|
|
Total |
14 |
9 |
19 |
18 |
19 |
17 |
18 |
17 |
24 |
23 |
20 |
18 |
12 |
12 |
|
Accelerated Procedure |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Standard Procedure |
14 |
9 |
19 |
18 |
19 |
17 |
18 |
17 |
24 |
23 |
20 |
18 |
14 |
13 |
|
Shortest Processing Time |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Longest Processing Time |
131 |
108 |
142 |
118 |
89 |
170 |
77 |
|||||||
|
IPAT Application Process Times in Months |
||||||||||||||
|
IPAT Decision Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (up to 31st Oct) |
|||||||
|
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Median |
|
|
Total |
7 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
|
Accelerated Procedure |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
4 |
4 |
|
Accelerated IP Appeal |
. |
. |
. |
. |
3 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
11 |
14 |
12 |
5 |
5 |
|
Dublin 111 |
. |
. |
4 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
12 |
18 |
14 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
|
Inadmissible Appeal |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
20 |
18 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Legacy - Asylum Appeal |
. |
. |
13 |
13 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
SP Appeal - Legacy |
10 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
12 |
9 |
11 |
8 |
25 |
26 |
17 |
17 |
20 |
20 |
|
Subsequent Appeal |
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
23 |
5 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal |
3 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
15 |
14 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
5 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal - Asylum only |
5 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
9 |
12 |
10 |
9 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal - SP only |
3 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
12 |
20 |
20 |
5 |
3 |
40 |
40 |
|
Shortest Processing Time |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Longest Processing Time |
30 |
44 |
41 |
37 |
43 |
53 |
65 |
|||||||
120. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice for an estimate of the required Garda hours to complete a deportation order. [51350/23]
View answer122. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of deportations ordered and completed for the years 2013 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and the associated costs for those years, in tabular form. [51352/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 122 together.
I can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. A person subject to a Deportation Order has no legal basis to remain in the State. Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and all available appeals processes have been exhausted.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations. It is not possible to estimate the number of hours of Garda time to complete a deportation as each case is individual with different sets of circumstances, including destination and route required.
The Deputy will be aware that the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take account of individuals who have left the State without informing my Department. It is the case that many individuals who are subject to Deportation Orders leave the State without notifying the relevant authorities and this particular category of individual is difficult to quantify.
The below table sets out the number of deportations ordered and completed for the years 2013 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and the associated costs for those years. The figure for costs covers flights and accommodation costs, where required, for all removals including Dublin 3 transfers, EU Removals as well as deportations.
|
- |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Deportation orders issued |
1172 |
958 |
817 |
1437 |
1116 |
1112 |
2009 |
872 |
29 |
271 |
829 |
|
Deportation order effected |
199 |
111 |
250 |
428 |
138 |
163 |
298 |
140 |
38 |
118 |
65 |
|
Costs of all deportations/returns |
€437,567 |
€304,108 |
€703,961 |
€1,010,386 |
€1,055,366 |
€916,389 |
€1,202,239 |
€1,628,266 |
€428,131 |
€467,289 |
€387,131 |
