Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
892. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for international protection within the meaning of the International Protection Act 2015 that were lodged at the IPO in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12397/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra893. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many decisions were made granting/refusing international protection by the IPO in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12398/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra894. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many applications for subsidiary protection were lodged at the IPO for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12399/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra895. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many decisions were made granting/refusing subsidiary protection by the IPO for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12400/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra901. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many applications were not progressed/ deemed withdrawn for non-engagement or attendance for each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12406/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 892, 893, 894, 895 and 901 together.
My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
Under the single procedure, an applicant makes only one application, and has all grounds for seeking international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) as well as permission to remain determined in one process. This is known as a first-instance decision, or first-instance recommendation.
The International Protection Office (IPO) makes first instance recommendations in respect of international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) as well as decisions on permission to remain. Where an international protection applicant has been refused international protection, as part of a single procedure, a decision will be made on whether or not to grant the applicant permission to remain in the State.
The table below sets out the number of applications for international protection, each year from 2021 to 2023.
|
IP Applications |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
IP Applications |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Total |
2,647 |
13,645 |
13,275 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
The table below sets out the number of IPO First Instance Decisions issued from 2021 to 2023.
|
Determination |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Refugee Status (RS) Grant |
859 |
1,390 |
2,471 |
|
Subsidiary Protection (SP) Grant (RS Refusal)* |
74 |
69 |
237 |
|
Permission to Remain (PTR) Grant (RS and SP Refusal)* |
588 |
2,077 |
533 |
|
Refusal (RS, SP and PTR Refusal)* |
780 |
867 |
5,173 |
|
Inadmissible |
2 |
89 |
183 |
|
Withdrawal |
164 |
491 |
361 |
|
Grand Total** |
2,467 |
4,983 |
8,958 |
*Refusal of any Refugee Status and Subsidiary Protection elements at first instance can be appealed to the IPAT.
**Figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
**Year decision made may not relate to the year the application was made.
Of the first-instance decisions issued by the IPO, 61.5% in 2023 were refused on all grounds (note, this does not include withdrawals and decisions on admissibility).
The International Protection Act 2015, places a duty on applicants to cooperate with the process, and the details of the process are covered in Section 38 of the Act. The International Protection Office (IPO) writes to applicants who are not cooperating with the process, in particular where they do not attend an interview without a medical certificate, at their last known address, giving them notice that they may be failing in their duty to cooperate, and giving them the opportunity to engage with the process.
The IPO copies this letter to their legal representative where known. In the event an applicant does not respond and continues not cooperating with the process, the IPO will proceed to make a recommendation. This is done on the basis of the information available as submitted by the applicant or their legal representative. These recommendations are not different to or distinguished from recommendations generally.
