Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply. In recent years, the number of asylum applications has dropped by two thirds, yet there has not been a significant fall in the cost of providing accommodation. On average it is costing approximately €210 per asylum seeker per week. Will the Minister explain why this is the case? The reason the cost to the taxpayer has not fallen is that it is taking so long to bring these applications to completion. What is the length of time taken to deal with an asylum application and a leave-to-remain application? Is it not the case that some people are waiting nearly a decade for decisions?

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