Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 April 2025
199. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice following the publication of the brief on Ireland’s National Implementation Plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, to outline the number of additional International Protection Office caseworkers, translators, and healthcare staff he expects will need to be hired to support the implementation of the new international protection procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16009/25]
View answer210. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice following the publication of the brief on Ireland's national immigration plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, the number of legal practitioners which have or are intended to be contracted or resourced to provide early-stage legal advice under the reformed international protection system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16038/25]
View answer212. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice following the publication of the brief on Irelands national immigration plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, if his department has or intend to undertake a cost analysis on funding the legal aid board to meet increased early-stage demand under the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16040/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 210 and 212 together.
It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced.
The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practises across the EU.
Ireland’s national implementation plan (NIP) sets out the State’s proposed approach to meeting the requirements set out in the Pact. It is not a binding prescription, but rather an indication of how Ireland intends to go about implementing the Pact.
The NIP allows for a transition period before the Pact comes into effect in June 2026 during which elements can be examined in greater detail and modified as required. This includes operational aspects as well as resource requirements around human resources, IT, infrastructure etc.
Following significant engagement with stakeholders in the international protection system, my Department, supported by colleagues in the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth and agencies, has drawn up a first indicative cost model setting out potential capital set-up costs, post-Pact implementation non-pay running costs and the cost of new staff required from June 2026 to process applications.
Additional staff are required in particular in IPAT, Repatriation and legal aid to support faster processing required by the Pact. This will enhance capacity in areas that have not expanded to the same extent as the IPO in recent years.
The State is currently analysing how to restructure the provision of legal aid to fulfil the State’s obligations under the Pact measures in relation to legal counselling, legal assistance and legal representation.
The cost estimates associated with the plan are tentative at this stage and require further refinement and budgetary approval. The submission to the European Commission has emphasised that further work is required to finalise this.
