Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed the Minister is not prepared to discuss this matter with the President of the High Court. A substantial part of the delay in the Department processing asylum applications results from delays in processing leave to remain applications. While I accept that the latter are complex, based on the current rate of processing it would take approximately five years to clear the existing backlog of such applications. Is the Minister of the view that this is unacceptable, particularly in light of the fact that €800 per week is spent on the court, accommodation, processing and deportation costs of each asylum applicant? Would it not make sense to allocate additional resources to process the leave to remain applications to which I refer in order that people who are eligible for refugee status in this country will be granted it as quickly as possible and that those who are deemed not to be eligible will be returned to their home countries as soon as possible?

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