Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2015
180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received for refugee and asylum status in each of the past five years to date; the numbers approved, rejected, or pending, excluding those applications made prior to the period in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24412/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) received the following numbers of applications in each year since 2010: 1,939 in 2010; 1,290 in 2011; 956 in 2012; 946 in 2013; 1,448 in 2014; and 1,147 in 2015 (to end May). Of those received in this period 601 were granted refugee status, 3,983 were refused and 2,535 are pending decision in ORAC or the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. More than 1,000 of the applications pending in ORAC were received in 2015. The balance of applications received are predominantly cases processed under the Dublin II system.
While currently the vast majority of applications at first instance are processed by ORAC within a six month period from time of application, the median processing times is extending due to the sharply increasing volumes of applications in 2014 and 2015 to date.
