Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 532: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons residing here who are awaiting a decision on asylum status; the cost of accommodating those people here; the breakdown of the nationality of those people in State provided accommodation and those outside the direct provision system respectively; the corresponding figures for leave to remain applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29545/09]

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 30 June, 2009 was 872. The number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at appeal stage (RAT) as at 30 June, 2009 was 3,146. A breakdown by nationality of asylum applications on hand at 30 June, 2009 is set out in Table 1.

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible, in accordance with Government policy, for the accommodation of asylum seekers in Ireland. It operates a Direct Provision system which provides protection applicants with full board accommodation free of utility or other costs. Unless asylum seekers are placed under 'report and reside' arrangements, they are free to leave accommodation provided by RIA, or opt not to avail of the facilities that lie therein from their day of arrival in the State. 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. The RIA currently accommodates approximately 7,000 persons. The 2008 expenditure outturn of RIA in respect of the provision of accommodation and ancillary services was €91.47 million. Statistics are not readily available in relation to the proportion of asylum cases on hand which are either in RIA accommodation or private accommodation. Any costs to the State associated with accommodating asylum seekers in private accommodation is not a matter for my Department. For further details in this regard I would have to refer the Deputy to my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The Deputy may however be aware that rent supplement payments were abolished for new asylum applicants from 27 May 2003.

The number of leave to remain applications, including those from failed asylum applicants, awaiting a decision as at 30 June, 2009 was 14,131. A breakdown by nationality of leave to remain applications on hand at 30 June, 2009 is set out in Table 2.

Table 1: Asylum applications on hand at 30 June 2009 by nationality

Table 2: Leave to remain applications on hand at 30 June 2009 by nationality

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new asylum applicants who sought protection from the State to date in 2009; the breakdown of the nationality of those people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29546/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number and nationality of new asylum applications received in 2009 is set out as follows.

New Asylum Applications Received in 2009 (30/6) by Nationality