Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
365. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice the length of time it takes international protection applicants to be interviewed and their application processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5458/24]
View answer366. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice the length of time it takes for appeals against a decision to refuse refugee status or other permission to remain in Ireland to be heard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5459/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.
Over the course of the last year, the IPO increased the number of monthly determinations to over 1,000 in November 2023, and plans to deliver at least 14,000 decisions in 2024, an increase of 5,000 cases on the level achieved in 2023.
In November 2022, I signed a regulation 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 10 weeks. The number of applications from safe countries has fallen by 38% over the first 12 months of the operation of the accelerated procedure.
Overall median processing times first-instance decisions has reduced from 18 months in 2022 down to 13 months in 2023.
The median processing time for IPAT appeals was 5.5 months in 2023 down from 13.5 months at the start of 2022.
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 Deputy may also wish to know that my Department has created a 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 are published on a monthly basis.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/48a28-international-protection-in-numbers/
