Seán Canney
Question:385. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Justice the number of asylum seekers who are now in the State; the projected number of asylum seekers expected to come to the State over the next 12 months [54572/23]
View answerThursday, 14 December 2023
Questions (385)
Written answers
The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously.
The number of international protection applications in 2022 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. There were 11,850 applications made by November 30 2023. Any projection of possible arrival figures is unreliable.
Evidence from the UNHCR shows that the number of displaced persons internationally remains high. Underpinning this are a range of factors that drive individuals to seek protection. In these circumstances any projection of possible arrival figures in Ireland would not be reliable.
There are currently 17,524 (as of cob 30th Nov) applications pending at different stages at the IPO, of which less than 2% (1.88%) have been pending for more than 2 years. At the IPAT there were 3,343 appeals pending as of close of business on 1 December 2023.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.
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.