Vol. 555 No. 4
34 Mr. Penrose 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 decisions made; the number of deportation orders made in that period; the number of such deportations carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18508/02]
166 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for asylum currently with his Department and awaiting decision; the average length of time taken to process such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18761/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 166 together.
The information sought by the Deputies is set out in the following tabular statement.
The current statistics clearly indicate that significant progress continues to be made in relation to the processing of asylum applications and that the increase in processing capacity which has been put in place as part of the Government's asylum strategy is making a real impact on the backlog of cases on hands. This is evidenced by the fact that the number of backlog cases, i.e. cases which are over six months old, on hand in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal as at 30 September 2002 is now down to approximately 1,760 from a figure of approximately 6,500 at the end of September 2001, the vast majority of which are in the final stages of processing. The ORAC is currently scheduling asylum applicants who applied in August 2002 for interview. At the end of September 2002 there were 7,773 cases on hand in the ORAC and RAT, the vast majority of which were received in 2002.
Table 1
Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC)
First Instance Recommendations
|
Year |
2001 |
2002(30/9/02) |
|
Number of applications received |
10,325 |
8,412 |
|
Number of applications processed |
11,772 |
11,365 |
|
Recommendations to grant refugee status |
458 |
708 |
|
Recommendations to refuse refugee status |
6,501 |
5,961 |
|
Withdrawals processed and determinations for transfer to other countries under the Dublin Convention |
4,813 |
4,696 |
|
Year |
2001 |
2002(30/9/02) |
|
(1) Number of Appeals Received |
4,192 |
4,079 |
|
(2) Number of Appeals Completed* |
3,472* |
4,226* |
|
Year |
2001 |
2002(30/9/02) |
|
Decisions to grant on appeal or toset aside/overturn ORAC recommendation |
655 |
880 |
|
Appeals refused/decisions affirmed |
2161 |
2860 |
|
Year |
2001 |
2002(30/9/02) |
|
Number of Deportation Orders signed |
2,025 |
2,127 |
|
Number of Deportation Orders effected |
365 |
439 |
