Mr. Brian Purcell:

We have made a good bit of progress on that front in recent years, notwithstanding a substantial increase in the number of valid applications. In 2011 and 2012, more than 38,000 valid applications were received. In the period from 9 March 2011 to 8 February 2013, a total of 45,800 valid applications were determined. By contrast, in 2010, a decision was reached in just under 7,800 cases. So far this year, decisions have been made on 8,300 applications, with the volume for 2013 to be similar to that achieved in 2012.