Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Secretary General and the full complement of officials. It looks like half the Department is with us today. I appreciate they are extremely busy in responding. I think I am correct in saying the Vote before us concerns approximately €1 billion and the Vote that will be before us for 2022 will involve approximately €2 billion, which shows the scale of the increase in expenditure in this area by the Department and the resultant increase in activity. As Deputy Dillon did, I acknowledge that challenge, from a manpower perspective if nothing else.

We should not have to say this but in challenging operational weaknesses or service delivery issues, it is important we are not in any way seen as giving succour to the idea that Ireland should not cope with the challenge of international protection, not just from the perspective of international responsibilities but our own responsibilities. If I ask tough questions, it is not in any way to suggest we should not rise to the challenge.

I will focus a little on the issue Deputy Dillon raised regarding international protection. The numbers have increased very significantly. Has the Department done any work on projecting where that might go in 2023? What patterns are impacting that?