Vol. 484 No. 3
316 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 380 of 2 December 1997 the total number of asylum seekers and refugees known to his Department; if he has satisfied himself that the figures referred to are the actual figures of new identification cards issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22124/97]
In the period 1 January 1994 to 30 November, 1997, 5,505 applications for refugee status were accepted by my Department. Of these some 4,060 cases are awaiting finalisation and 235 have been recognised as refugees. These figures include adults and children.
All adult asylum seekers are issued with ID cards. Following the reissue of ID cards in October of this year it became apparent that there was a discrepancy between the number of persons who lodged asylum claims and those who turned up to have new ID cards issued to them. The reconciliation of the difference between the two figures is on-going but is a very laborious task and will take some time to complete.
