Wednesday, 20 Mar 2024

Written Answers Nos. 893-912

International Protection

Questions (896, 897, 898, 899, 900)

Alan Kelly

Question:

896. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many cases were progressed through Dublin III for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12401/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

897. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many applicants were directed to return to the first county under Dublin III for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12402/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

898. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many applicants returned to first countries/ left Ireland after a decision under Dublin III for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12403/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

899. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many cases were considered as inadmissible for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12404/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

900. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many applicants were returned to third countries where their claims had been previously considered and determined for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12405/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 to 900, inclusive, together.

Unfortunately, it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Question No. 897 answered with Question No. 896.

Question No. 898 answered with Question No. 896.

Question No. 899 answered with Question No. 896.

Question No. 900 answered with Question No. 896.

Question No. 901 answered with Question No. 892.

International Protection

Questions (902, 903, 904, 906)

Alan Kelly

Question:

902. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many Department staff were engaged exclusively at the IPO in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12407/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

903. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of the interviews with applicants under section 35(12) of the International Protection Act 2015 were conducted by employees of the Department in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12408/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

904. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of the interviews with applicants under section 35(12) of the International Protection Act 2015 were conducted by external service providers to the Department in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12409/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

906. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many employees of the Department/IPO were engaged exclusively in determining applications under the International Protection Act 2015 in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12411/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 902, 903, 904 and 906 together.

My 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 table below details the number of staff in the IPO from 2021 - 2023.

Year	2021	2022	2023
Number of staff	180	206	408

The table below provides details of the number of employees whose primary function was to make recommendations to the Minister on first instance applications for International Protection in accordance with the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015 in the years 2021 to 2023.

The Deputy will appreciate that individual roles and assignments will vary over the course of any given year. Staff not directly involved in determinations are involved in other essential functions under the International Protection Act including initial registration of applicants, scheduling and administration of the interview process, and issuing of decisions, as well as normal organisational support functions.

Year	Number of Staff involved in Determinations
2021	83
2022	92
2023	242

In relation to the number of interviews carried out, statistics are not maintained in relation to the information sought by the Deputy. To be of assistance, however, the following data has been extracted from IPO records, but should be considered operational and subject to adjustment. The Deputy will appreciate that the number of interviews conducted is expected to increase further in 2024 as additional staff and panel members come on board, and also as the full year impact of the very large number of staff and panel members appointed during 2023 is realised.

-	2021	2022	2023
Interviews conducted by civil servants	662	1,134	2,292
Interviews conducted by Panel Members	1,054	4,049	5,700

Question No. 903 answered with Question No. 902.

Question No. 904 answered with Question No. 902.

International Protection

Questions (905)

Alan Kelly

Question:

905. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of all of the interviews carried out at the IPO, under section 35(12) of the International Protection Act 2015 were conducted using or requiring the services of a translator in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12410/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that my Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. We recognise the importance of high quality interpretation and translation to this process.

The figures detailed below reflect the number of interviews undertaken for which an interpreter was provided to translate in real time the spoken statements of applicants and interviewers.

Year	2021	2022	2023
Number of Interviews	1,202	2,994	6,123

Question No. 906 answered with Question No. 902.

International Protection

Questions (907, 908, 909, 910, 911)

Alan Kelly

Question:

907. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many external service providers, engaged in section 35(12) interviews, the IPO had available to it in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12412/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

908. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many external service providers, were engaged in fewer than five section 35(12) interviews in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12413/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

909. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many external service providers, were engaged in between five and ten section 35(12) interviews in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12414/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

910. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many external service providers, were engaged in between 10 and 15 section 35(12) interviews in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12415/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

911. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many external service providers, were engaged in 15 or more section 35(12) interviews in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12416/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 907 to 911, inclusive, together.

My 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.

In July last 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 international protection applicants. This will ensure those who are entitled to international protection are given status to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria.

As part of the modernisation programme, one of the priority areas of focus for the IPO was to recruit both civil servants and panel members, to increase the capacity to process cases. The complex nature of the International Protection Act 2015 and the consideration of international protection applications requires in-depth training and the IPO works closely with the UNHCR and the EUAA in developing and delivering this training to its staff and panel members. The IPO therefore has a comprehensive training programme in place for all caseworkers and panel members involved in interviewing applicants and considering international protection applications.

In 2023, 159 new Panel Members were recruited, bringing the total number to 207. Many of these new members are currently completing training and beginning to undertake interviews. Others are still completing training. Payments to panel members are based on the number of reports completed to the necessary standard.

In addition to the increase in panel members staffing in the International Protection Office is also increasing, to more 400 staff, an increase of 95% over 2022.

This increase in capacity is already having a positive impact. The IPO made 2,482 first instance determinations in 2021, 4,323 in 2022, 9,000 in 2023 and are confident of delivering over 14,000 decisions this year.

Statistics are not maintained in relation to the information sought by the Deputy. To be of assistance, however, the following data has been extracted from IPO records, but should be considered operational and subject to adjustment. The information provided reflects both the part time nature of the role, and also the fact that newly appointed panel members are gradually being assigned cases as they become fully proficient in their roles.

Number of external service providers who were engaged in Section 35 personal interviews	2021	2022	2023
Engaged in fewer than 5 Section 35(12) interviews	6	1	14
Engaged in between 5 and 10 Section 35(12) interviews	6	2	9
Engaged in between 10 and 15 Section 35(12) interviews	9	3	5
Engaged in more than 15 Section 35(12) interviews	37	46	63
TOTAL number of external service providers who were engaged in Section 35 personal interviews	58	52	91

Question No. 908 answered with Question No. 907.

Question No. 909 answered with Question No. 907.

Question No. 910 answered with Question No. 907.

Question No. 911 answered with Question No. 907.

International Protection

Questions (912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918)

Alan Kelly

Question:

912. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice in arriving at their conclusions in the report prepared pursuant to section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015, how many applications for international protection are rejected on credibility grounds, by employees of the IPO in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12417/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

913. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice in arriving at their conclusions in the report prepared pursuant to section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015, how many applications for international protection are rejected on credibility grounds by external service providers in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12418/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

914. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of the reports of the IPO, prepared pursuant to section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015 have as primary author, an employee of the Department in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12419/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

915. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of the reports prepared by the IPO, pursuant to section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015, have been authored by external service providers, and subject to supervision/signing by the IPO in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12420/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

916. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many reports, prepared pursuant section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015, were prepared in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12421/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

917. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of the recommendations provided in the reports were not followed by the Minister in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12422/24]

Alan Kelly

Question:

918. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many of the recommendations provided in the reports were followed by the Minister in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12423/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 912 to 918, inclusive, together.

The complex nature of the International Protection Act 2015 and the consideration of international protection applications requires in-depth training and the IPO works closely with the UNHCR and the EUAA in developing and delivering this training to its staff and panel members. The IPO therefore has a comprehensive training programme in place for all caseworkers and panel members involved in interviewing applicants and considering international protection applications.

I can advise the Deputy that an assessment of credibility is one of a number of important factors that are taken into account in considering a claim for international protection and whether individual applicants meet the threshold of facing a well-founded fear of persecution or face the risk of suffering serious harm. However, the Department does not maintain records which would readily identify those claims in which credibility formed a significant part of the consideration that led to an unsuccessful claim for protection.

Data is also not collated in a manner which enables a breakdown of report authors by civil servant or Panel Member.

Following the provisions of Section 40(1) of the International Protection Act 2015, the Minister is required by statute to notify an applicant and/or their legal representative if applicable, of the recommendation made by an international protection officer following the preparation of a report under Section 39 of the Act.

The following table shows the number of recommendations issued to International Protection Applicants from 2021 to 2023:

Year	No. of Notices Issued to IP Applicants
2021	2,387
2022	4,337
2023	8,074
Total	14,798

*Data provided is correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.

Separately, other staff will then decide, on behalf of the Minister, whether or not permission to remain in the State should be granted on humanitarian or other grounds, as set out in section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015 to unsuccessful applicants for international protection.