Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Asylum Applications

10:00 am

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the total number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at first instance and on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30113/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As at 31 May 2010, the number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at first instance in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) was 489, of which 92 were on hands for over six months. As at 31 May 2010, the number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at appeal stage in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) was 1,590, of which 1,004 were on hands for over six months.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of persons deported to third countries in 2009; the cost involved; the ten most expensive separate deportations; the corresponding figures to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30114/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The deportation costs provided below refer to the removal from the State of illegal immigrants and persons whose asylum applications were refused. The vast majority of the removals involved persons whose asylum applications were refused.

Set out below is information for 2009, and 2010 up to 30 June. These figures include the travel costs relating to the deportees and their Garda escorts. The Deputy might wish to note that the figures below do not include the cost of overtime or subsistence payments for Garda escorts.

YearCost of DeportationsNumbers Deported
2009€1,069,634.00291
2010 (up to 30 June)€377,385.71130

My Department deports persons to non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries. To identify the ten most expensive deportations would involve a disproportionate use of resources in disaggregating those individual costs from the cost figures quoted above. During the period in question however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the single most expensive deportation involved the removal of a Georgian man in March 2009 at a cost of €35,205.22.

In considering the costs of deportations, the considerable expense arising from the continued presence in the State of persons who are the subject of deportation orders has to be taken into account. These costs include social welfare costs, direct provision costs, and detention costs in certain cases. While it is important to keep deportation costs to a minimum, not to remove persons refused permission to remain in the State would call into question the integrity of the entire immigration system. This would leave this country open to further illegal immigration and even more expense to taxpayers.

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