Mr. Michael Kirrane:

We have been looking at the processing of cases for the past number of months to see how we can speed that up. Our average processing before the pandemic was 15 months for a first-instance decision. We want to get that down to nine months, and indeed to get it below that. We have had our challenges with the pandemic because we cannot carry out face-to-face interviews as part of the process, which we must do as it is a legal requirement. We are looking at how we can get back and start that process as quickly as possible through the use of video-conferencing and a series of other measures.

In the longer term, the Catherine Day advisory group has been established. One of its terms of reference is specifically to look at how to further speed up processing cases and to look at best practice across Europe in relation to doing that. It is currently undertaking its work and is expected to report in the autumn. It is in all of our interest to speed up the processing of cases because by doing so, it would mean that people would be in the direct provision system for a shorter period, and those who are given a positive decision could get on with their lives and move out of the facility as quickly as possible.