Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people currently applying for asylum who are resident in direct provision in Mallow, County Cork; the average time for processing claims for asylum; the breakdown by nationality of those resident within the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38121/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is not possible, without a disproportionate expenditure of staff resources, to provide the information in precisely the format requested by the Deputy. In this respect, it must be borne in mind that asylum seekers are not allocated to particular centres based on their nationality, the current status of their asylum claim or their length of time in the asylum process. Information as to the mean average length of time in the asylum process or the nationality profile of asylum seekers resident in any particular centre would have no practical application or value.

Therefore, I propose to indicate the profile of the centre specified by the Deputy and explain, in general terms, the processing times in the asylum process.

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. Direct provision provides full board accommodation and certain ancillary services to asylum seekers while their applications for asylum are being processed. In addition to direct provision accommodation, the RIA operates a small number of self-catering units where residents cook for themselves and avail of a reduced rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). These units are free of rent and utility costs to the asylum seekers and the reduced rate of SWA takes into account this benefit-in-kind. Such units normally provide accommodation to persons with certain special needs which can best be addressed outside of the standard direct provision service.

The centre at Davis Lane Apartments, Mallow is such a self-catering centre. There are currently 35 persons registered as resident at the centre, representing 12 nationalities.

In relation to average processing times, the length of time taken to process asylum applications differs depending on whether an applicant is dealt with under prioritised arrangements or not. With effect from the 25 January 2005, new arrangements for the speedier processing of applications from certain countries were implemented. These arrangements apply in the main to nationals of Nigeria, Croatia and South Africa. They also applied to Romania and Bulgaria prior to their accession to the EU on 1 January 2007.

In terms of the average time taken to process applications at first instance — by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner — the average processing time for prioritised cases is 17-20 working days from the date of application. For non-prioritised cases, the average processing time is 20-23 weeks from the date of application.

I would point out that some cases take significantly longer to complete due to, for example, delays arising from medical issues, non-availability of interpreters or because of judicial review proceedings. Further complexity arises because of the fact that applicants are from over 90 different countries. Applicants continue to be scheduled for interview on the date of application unless there are medical or other compelling reasons not to do so.

The Refugee Applications Commissioner continues to keep the procedures for processing applications for refugee status under review. The objective remains to expedite the processing of asylum applications at first instance without compromising the applicants' rights to a fair and balanced examination of their case.

Appeals against recommendations made by the Refugee Applications Commissioner are dealt with by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal advises that the average length of time taken by it to process and complete substantive appeals is 27 weeks. For prioritised cases, this processing time is 11 weeks. For accelerated appeals (appeals on papers only), the processing time is 8 weeks.

As with first instance applications, the above average processing times in the Tribunal can be longer in certain cases. Many factors such as adjournments, postponements, judicial reviews and requests by legal representatives for access to previous Tribunal decisions can impede the Tribunal from completing cases earlier. High quality, consistent and fair decision making in all cases continues to be a high priority in the Tribunal.