Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

27 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for asylum received during 2001 and to date in 2002; the number of applications processed in that period; the breakdown of the decisions made; the number of deportations orders made in that period; the number of such deportations implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6077/02]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

31 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum applications being processed; the processing time; the number of applications which have been withdrawn in the course of the process; the grounds of the withdrawal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5974/02]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

133 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum applications which have been made since 1994; the yearly breakdown of such applications; the number of applications which have been withdrawn; the percentage of applications which were granted refugee status at first stage and the percentage refused; the number of applicants who have availed of the opportunity to appeal following refusal; the determination of such appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6141/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

154 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of non-nationals whose applications for asylum or refugee status were received on a monthly basis in the past two years; the number of applications approved and rejected in each month over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6227/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 31, 133 and 154 together.

The information sought by the Deputies, in so far as the statistics are available in the format sought, is set out in the following tabular statements. I have been informed by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner that there are some 7,350 asylum applications awaiting final decision in that office. This figure refers to all applications received up to 20 February. Of these nearly 3,050 have been scheduled for interview or have completed the interview process and are awaiting decision. The Refugee Appeals Tribunal has informed me that the estimated number of appeals on hands is 2,444. This figure refers to all appeals received up to 31 January.

At 31 January only 3,750 applications were on hands for more than six months in the ORAC and in the region of 600 in the RAT with the majority of these being in the final stages of processing. During the period 1994 to 2001, inclusive, approximately 5% of all applicants were granted refugee status at first stage. When the results of appeals lodged during the period are taken into account this figure rises to approximately 8%.

It is evident that the increase in processing capacity, which has been put in place in both the ORAC and the RAT as part of the Government's asylum strategy, is making a real impact on the backlog of cases. This measure is helping to progressively reduce processing times.

For example, since July 2001 cases scheduled, processed and completed at first instance have significantly exceeded intake with 8,026 decisions being taken in the past six months of 2001: In July 961 applications were received, 1,473 interviews were scheduled and 1,072 cases processed to completion; in August 983 applications were received, 1,543 interviews were scheduled and 1,407 cases processed to completion; in September 855 applications were received, 1,594 interviews were scheduled and 1,145 cases processed to completion; in October 892 applications were received, 1,213 interviews were scheduled and 1,506 cases processed to completion; in November 904 applications were received, 1,220 interview were scheduled and 1,744 cases processed to completion; in December, 960 applications were received, 645 interviews were scheduled and 1,152 cases processed to completion; in January 2002, 838 applications were received, 1,199 interviews were scheduled and 1,305 cases processed to completion; 1,275 interviews have been scheduled for February 2002.

In addition the following should be noted: The total number of cases processed by the ORAC in 2001 and 2002, up to 31 January, was 12,142 and 1,305 respectively; the total number of appeals completed by the RAT in 2001 and 2002, up to 31 January, was 3,472 and 567 respectively; interviews are at present being scheduled by the ORAC for applicants who arrived in autumn 2001; over 97% of pre-2001 cases outstanding on or received since 20 November 2000 have now been offered a substantive interview. Thus, from January the ORAC is focusing on applications submitted in 2001. In the ORAC the number of interviews scheduled for 2001 was more than double the figure for 2000. The Refugee Appeals Tribunal scheduled 170% more hearings in 2001 as compared with 2000.

I have been informed that the main reasons for asylum applications being withdrawn are parent or sibling of an Irish born child, marriage to EU or Irish national, or voluntary repatriation.

Table 1: Asylum applications (1994-2001)

First instance
	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
No. of applications	362	424	1,179	3,883	4,626	7,724	10,938	10,325	838
No. of withdrawals						3,555**	2,376	4,581	473
Granted				239*	128	166	211	456	52
Refused/Abandoned				6,100*	1,210	4,806	6,281	6,501	725

*Covers period 1994 to 1997

** Prior to 2000 statistics relating to withdrawals of applications were recorded by year of application and not by the year in which the withdrawal was made. The figure of 3,555 is a cumulative figure for 1994 to 1999, inclusive.

Appeals
	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Received	15	10	8	158	856	2,317	3,702	4,192	370
Withdrawals				22*	28	204	434	643	57
Status Granted				4*	40	351	394	478	97
Refused/Abandoned				2*	222	656	2,486	2,158	400

*Covers period 1992 to 1997, inclusive.

Table 2: Number of asylum applications per month – 2000 to 2001 including approved and rejected

ORAC – First instance – 2000

2000	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Received	976	864	972	1036	802	677	773	919	963	1,098	1,096	762	10,938
Recommendation to grant	10	30	19	6	14	28	14	7	4	12	59	8	211
Recommendation to refuse – including abandoned cases	317	502	369	416	549	554	532	581	440	728	1,206	87	6,281

It should be noted that the above figures refer to the year in which the application was processed

and not to the year in which it lodged.

ORAC – First instance – 2001

2001	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Received	840	706	763	741	838	882	961	983	855	892	904	960	10,325
Recommendation to grant	5	19	43	17	23	25	34	40	84	56	66	44	456
Recommendation to refuse – including abandoned cases	195	240	365	269	509	578	696	826	785	826	856	356	6,501

It should be noted that the above figures refer to the year in which the application was processed

and not to the year in which it lodged.

RAT – Appeals – 2000

2000	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Received	383	229	324	230	377	359	391	432	349	293	231	104	3,702
Status Granted	49	28	30	24	32	22	22	21	14	60	92	–	394
Status Refused	66	44	78	69	44	159	228	210	254	603	731	–	2,486

RAT – Appeals – 2001

2001	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Received	137	542	274	175	303	322	209	331	378	492	395	634	4,192
Status Granted	–	–	–	17	60	53	29	67	37	81	104	30	478
Status Refused	26	48	134	96	284	183	114	211	195	333	360	174	2,158

Table 3: Deportations 2001 and 2002

Deportation Orders	2001	2002(15/2/02)
Number of Deportation Orders signed	1,979	489
Number of Deportation Orders effected	365	64