Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
657. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons seeking asylum who arrived in each month from January 2020 to date; the countries travelled from in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11018/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all applications received. The staff of the IPO (the Chief International Protection Officer and the International Protection Officers) are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions.
My Department has continued to accept and process international protection applications throughout the pandemic. The IPO remains open to allow those who wish to claim international protection the opportunity to do so. This is considered an essential service at all times, including during the Covid-19 crisis.
Table 1 below contains the number of applications for international protection received during 2020 broken down by month and country of origin of the applicant.
Table 2 below contains the number of applications for international protection received and available for 2021.
Table 2
Applications for International Protection
January 2021*
|
Nationality |
Jan-21 |
|
Nigeria |
31 |
|
Afghanistan |
12 |
|
Somalia |
11 |
|
South Africa |
11 |
|
Sudan |
7 |
|
El Salvador |
6 |
|
Others |
60 |
|
Total |
138 |
*Where the numbers of applications from individual countries are low, no further breakdown by nationality is provided for confidentiality reasons, in line with section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015.
