Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
559. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice his plans to reform the asylum process for refugees from countries other than Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4296/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department will continue to take all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively. My Department is committed to reducing processing times for international protection applicants.
During 2022, the number of people claiming international protection increased significantly, with 13,651 applications made with the International Protection Office (IPO). This is a 186% increase on the same period in 2019, the last year in which application numbers were not impacted by COVID-19.
Over the last number of months, the International Protection Office has implemented a number of measures to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with reforms to the application, interview and decision making process, and these are having a significant impact upon processing times.
Notwithstanding the very large increase in the number of applications during 2022, the median processing time for all international protection cases (which includes decisions on permission to remain) processed to completion by the IPO in Quarter 4 of 2022 was 10 months. The median processing time for cases processed to completion for all of 2022 was 18 months.
On November 8 2022, the International Protection Office (IPO) introduced accelerated procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin. The Minister designates certain countries as safe countries of origin pursuant to section 72 of the International Protection Act, 2015.
The new accelerated process introduced in November 2022 is intended to significantly reduce processing times. As it has only been recently introduced, the IPO are monitoring implementation and the impact on processing times but I am confident that these new measures will have a significant impact.
The Government has also committed additional funding of nearly €18m in 2023 that will also go towards increasing efficiency in processing applications, including by increasing staff numbers at the International Protection Office. Further reforms are being examined with a view to speeding up the processing of applications.
