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Refugee Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2017

Wednesday, 22 November 2017

Ceisteanna (133)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

133. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average amount of time it is taking to get a first instance decision on a protection application from the International Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49492/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the International Protection Act 2015 was commenced on 31 December 2016. The 2015 Act introduced a single procedure which enables all grounds for seeking international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) or permission to remain in the State for other reasons to be examined and determined in one process.

At the end of October 2017, there were some 5,000 applications awaiting processing in the International Protection Office (IPO). The majority of these applications were made before the commencement of the 2015 Act but were not finalised by the former Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the former Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) by that date. These applications must be processed by the IPO under the transitional provisions of the 2015 Act. Various categories of cases reverted to the IPO including asylum appeals transferred from the former Refugee Appeals Tribunal and asylum and subsidiary protection cases transferred from the former ORAC. This has added significantly to the IPO’s caseload.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that considerable progress has been made by the IPO in getting the new single procedure process up and running. To date, the IPO has scheduled over 2,000 single procedure interviews (including in respect of EU relocation cases). More than 150 additional interviews have been scheduled in the IPO for the coming weeks with more interviews being scheduled on a daily basis. Some 1,400 recommendations/decisions in respect of international protection and permission to remain have also been made by the IPO. This includes some 600 recommendations in respect of the grant of international protection.

At the present time, it is not possible to calculate an accurate current median processing time for international protection applications due to the different case types on hands, which were returned to the IPO under the transitional provisions in the 2015 Act.  Considerable additional resources, have and are, being allocated to the IPO to assist it in undertaking its statutory functions with a view to processing the volume of cases on hands as soon as possible.

In relation to the scheduling of interviews and the processing of cases in the IPO, I am also advised that the prioritisation of international protection applications is provided for in the International Protection Act 2015 subject to the need for fairness and efficiency. When the Application for International Protection Questionnaire (IPO 2) and other supporting documentation is returned by applicants, the IPO is scheduling applications for interview primarily on the basis of date of application (oldest cases first). However, certain categories of applicant are also being prioritised such as those from refugee generating countries (such as Syria) and unaccompanied minors. The IPO’s approach to prioritisation has been agreed with the UNHCR and is available on its website: www.ipo.gov.ie.

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