Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2012
490 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been waiting five or more years to have their application for asylum processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29001/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra491 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the number of people currently in the asylum process; the number who have been in the process for five years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29002/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 491 together.
The Deputy may know applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) both of which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice and Equality on whether such status should be granted. The number of asylum seekers with cases pending in the asylum process at 31 May, 2012 was eight hundred. Sixty six of these cases, which are currently at appeal stage, have been in the asylum process for five years or more.
The Deputy might wish to know that the median processing time for asylum decisions in 2012 is 8 months. Clearly, some cases do take longer to complete, with delays arising for medical reasons or because of judicial review proceedings. All asylum applications and appeals are processed in accordance with the Refugee Act 1996 and high quality and fair decision-making in all cases continues to be a key priority at all stages of the asylum process. For the sake of completeness, I should also state that failed asylum seekers enter what is commonly referred to as the "leave to remain" process, where applications for subsidiary protection and further consideration to be given under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) are examined. This process is separate from the asylum or refugee status determination process.
