Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will revert to the processing of applications for a moment. In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, 3,434 decisions were made. In 2022, it rose to 4,988. In 2023, 9,000 decisions were made. If you look at the numbers that are applying, 92% of cases decided in 2022 were processed within three years so 8% are taking longer than three years which is an extraordinary length of time; 62% of cases decided in 2022 were decided within two years or less, which means that 38% or four in every ten cases took more than two years. It seems to be an extraordinary length of time. I know that sometimes it may hinge on a judicial decision because something else is happening in the courts in tandem. What is the Department's target for reducing the time? We need to free up space. I presume many of those people are in direct provision. Some of them will be successful applicants and are homeless. How is the Department removing the blocks in the system? It is not the best term to use. Four of every ten cases takes longer than two years.