Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 19 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

15 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for asylum received during 2002 and to date in 2003; the number of applications upheld by the Refugee Appeals Commissioner; the number of appeals submitted to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; the number of such appeals upheld; the number of applications for leave to remain; the number of such applications granted; the number of deportations orders made; the number of such deportations carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17117/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The information requested is contained in the following tabular statement, a copy of which is being circulated to Deputies.

Table 1: Number of applications received and the number of recommendations by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner to grant Refugee Status (at first instance) in 2002 and 2003 (31/05/03)

	2002	2003 (31/05)
Number of applications received	11,634	4,089
Number of recommendations to grant refugee status issued by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner *	893	156

* It is assumed that the reference in the Deputy's Question to ‘Refugee Appeals Commission' refers to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.

Table 2: Number of appeals submitted to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and the number upheld (at appeal stage) in 2002 and 2003 (31/05/03)

	2002	2003 (31/05)
Number of appeals received by Refugee Appeals Tribunal*	5,101	2,048
Number of appeals upheld by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (granted refugee status)*	1,100	390

*Substantive cases

Table 3: Number of Deportation Orders Signed and Number effected in 2002 and 2003 (13/06/03):

	2002	2003 (13/06)
Number of Deportation Orders Signed	2,430	676
Number of Deportation Orders Effected	521	240

Table 4: Number of Applications for Leave to Remain

	2002	2003 (31/05)
Number of Applications Received	6,896	1,139

Table 5: Number of Applications granted for Leave to Remain by category

	2002	2003 (31/05)
Parentage of Irish Born Child	3,123	172
Marriage to an Irish National	86	39
Dependant of EU Citizen	138	27
Humanitarian Grounds	159	35 (to 13/06)