Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 3

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

99 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 commission; 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 deportation orders made; the number of such deportations carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28259/03]

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

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

Table 1: Number of asylum 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 October 2003

	2002	2003(31/10)
Number of applications received	11,634	7,158
Number of recommendations to grant refugee status issued by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner*	893	304

*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 October 2003

	2002	2003(31/10)
Number of appeals received by Refugee Appeals Tribunal*	5,133	4,174
Number of appeals upheld by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (granted refugee status)*	1,099	700

*Substantive cases.

Table 3: Number of deportation orders signed and number effected in 2002 and 2003-31 October 2003

	2002	2003(31/10)
Number of deportation orders signed	2,430	1,811
Number of deportation orders effected	521	463

Table 4: Number of applications for leave to remain received from current or former asylum applicants

	2002	2003(31/10)
Number of applications received	6,887	1,239

Table 5: Number of applications granted for leave to remain by category

	2002	2003(31/10)
Parentage of Irish born child	3,113	172
Marriage to an Irish national	86	108
Dependant of EU citizen	138	72
Humanitarian grounds	159	73