Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of payments made to members of the presenting officers panel to attend hearings of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; his plans for this panel; if he can confirm that there has been a significant decline in the number of new asylum seekers applying to the Office of Refugee Applications Commission to date in 2009 compared to the past three years; if, in view of this development, he will be deploying existing civil service resources currently assigned to dealing with fresh applications to attending hearings of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal that are currently being served by the panel; the savings to the budget of the ORAC by making such a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32046/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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ORAC received 4,314 asylum applications in 2006, 3,985 in 2007 and 3,866 in 2008. The total number of asylum applications received to the end of August this year stands at 1,954. The Deputy will be aware that various factors have an impact on asylum numbers and an accurate prediction of future trends is difficult to make. A Presenting Panel of legally qualified persons was established by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) in early 2009 to represent the Commissioner at appeal hearings before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT), and thereby support ORAC presenting officers in this regard.

The cost effectiveness of the panel, in the context of the operation of the overall asylum process, was considered before the panel was established and it was decided that its establishment provided the most cost effective use of resources, particularly when account is taken of the significant costs associated with maintaining asylum seekers while in Ireland, including in relation to the provision of accommodation and other support services. As the work of the panel has not yet been completed, it is not proposed to discontinue its operation at the present time.

The schedule of fees payable to the Panel at present, taking account of the 8% reduction in fees earlier this year arising from a Government decision in relation to professional fees, is as follows: Prepare file and represent Commissioner at oral Hearing €276 Oral Hearing Husband and Wife similar cases €414 Oral Hearing Husband and Wife different cases €552 Deemed withdrawn / withdrawal €92 Adjourned / Postponed Zero

Total payments made to panel members between February 2009 and end August 2009 after deduction of withholding tax amounts to €150,514.

With regard to the staffing issue raised by the Deputy, I would point out that staff allocations in the asylum and immigration areas are kept under review on an ongoing basis having regard to changing trends in asylum applications and demand for immigration services generally. Over the past number of years, some 90 posts have been redeployed from ORAC mostly to meet increased demands for immigration related services. Additional posts are in the process of being redeployed at the present time with the main priority being to reduce the number of cases on hand in other areas of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and increase the number of removals of persons who are found to have no protection needs or other grounds to remain in the State. This in turn will contribute to reducing overall asylum and immigration costs to the State.