Noel Grealish (Galway West, Progressive Democrats)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people living here awaiting a decision on asylum status; the cost of accommodating these people across the country; the breakdown of the nationality of these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16131/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted.

The number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at first instance (ORAC) as at 31 March, 2009 was 1,013, of which 189 were on hands for over six months. The number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at appeal stage (RAT) as at 31 March, 2009 was 3,325, of which 2,161 were on hands for over six months. A breakdown by nationality of asylum applications on hand at 31 March, 2009 is set out in the table below.

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. The RIA currently operates 59 centres across 22 counties, accommodating 6,953 persons. Direct provision policy provides asylum seekers with full board accommodation and certain ancillary services while their applications for asylum are being processed. The outturn of the RIA for direct provision in 2008 was €91.4m.

The Deputy should be aware that the RIA also provides accommodation to persons whose asylum applications have been dealt with but who have made a request to the Minister for Leave to Remain in the State for other reasons.

Various efficiency and cost reduction measures are being implemented across INIS with a view to reducing the costs associated with asylum applications (including the cost of accommodation): implementation of the Government decision dated the 3 February, 2009 in relation to achieving an 8% reduction in spending on professional fees; engagement with contractors for asylum seeker accommodation to achieve an 8% reduction in RIA expenditure; commencement of Government agreed Value for Money (VFM) Review of spending by RIA on asylum seeker accommodation; implementation of strategies aimed at reducing asylum application numbers; establishment of ORAC Presenting Panel and an on-line system of access to Tribunal decisions, both of which are intended to speed up appeal hearings and reduce backlogs in the RAT; consolidating shared services related activities across INIS and redeploying resources to processing areas; and strategies aimed at reducing the delays and costs associated with Judicial Review proceedings, such as greater use of in-house training, expertise and precedents, resulting in less use of counsel; ongoing review of practices and procedures; and quality-proofing of decisions.

Table: Asylum applications on hand at first instance and appeal stage at 31 March 2009 by nationality