Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
422. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the total number of international protection applications that have been processed in accordance with the accelerated procedure since it was introduced in November 2022; and to provide a breakdown of the decision outcomes under this procedure in respect of granting permission to remain, granting and refusing international protection respectively, in tabular form. [53882/23]
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.
These reforms are being supported with significantly increased resources. Approximately €34m has been allocated in budget 2024 to the International Protection Office, IPO, and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal to continue to scale up processing.
This year, to end November 2023, the IPO completed 8173 first instance decisions – an increase of 66.89% on the same period last year, increasing even further the rate of decisions year on year.
The table below sets out the breakdown of IPO first instance decision outcomes under the accelerated procedure from November 2022 to 30 November 2023. In that time, 2,013 applications were received under this procedure.
The total decision reflects the initial IPO decision, and the Ministerial Decision Unit decision unit issues final, post-appeal decisions to complete a case.
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Accelerated Procedure International Protection Applications from 8th November 2022 to 30th November 2023* |
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|
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|
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Outcome Type |
Refugee Status Grants |
Subsidiary Protection Grants |
Permission to Remain Grant (1st Instance and Final Decision) |
Refusal All |
Total Decisions |
|
IPO 1st Instance Determination |
115 |
5 |
53 |
1258 |
1431 |
* The data in this table is valid as at 5th December 2023. The applicant's MDU latest decision may change due to data cleansing, permission revoked and if applicant appeals and a further final decision is made.
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. This can be accessed at:
www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/304ba-international-protection/
www.gov.ie/en/collection/48a28-international-protection-in-numbers/
