John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the reason close scheduling of appeal hearings has continued over the past ten years at the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, despite repeated complaints and requests by applicants' legal representatives to change same, in order to give more time between each appeal hearing and accordingly to eliminate additional costs; if he will request the authorities at the Refugee Appeal Tribunal to change this scheduling procedure to eliminate unnecessary costs and make savings in all Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41693/10]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will provide, for the period 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2010, the number of appeal hearings that were late starting due to the overrunning of previous appeal hearings; the time period each such appeal was late commencing; the additional cost of interpreters for each such time delay; the number of appeal hearings that had to be completely adjourned by reason of time constraints due to this over scheduling and the amount of the additional costs to the taxpayer in having to re-attend on new hearing dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41694/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together.

Firstly, I would point out that the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions under the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended). The Chairman of the Tribunal is obliged under the Act to ensure that the business of the Tribunal is managed efficiently and that the business assigned to members is disposed of expeditiously. Accordingly it would not be appropriate for me to interfere with or instruct the Tribunal in this regard.

I am advised by the Chairman that there is no policy of "close scheduling" in the Tribunal. The Tribunal endeavours, in co-operation with Members, to manage the complex task of scheduling in the most efficient way possible. It is difficult to forecast with accuracy the duration of hearings given the nature of the task, i.e. a hearing may take an unexpected direction and evidence given may be lengthier and more time consuming than anticipated. Members of the Tribunal are given three weeks notice of their hearing schedule. Where a Member advises that the time allocated for a hearing may be insufficient, the Tribunal will adjust the schedule accordingly.

Records are not maintained in the Tribunal in relation to the information sought by the Deputy concerning late commencement of hearings.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the additional cost to the taxpayer for a rescheduled hearing (details supplied) to include travelling expenses, subsistence allowance, attendance fee in respect of the applicant, his legal representative, witnesses and interpreter, for a new re-scheduled hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41695/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that owing to the confidentiality provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), it is not the practice to comment in any respect in relation to asylum applications which might be pending. Details in relation to the overall costs to the taxpayer arising from the attendance of applicants at Tribunal hearings are not readily available as the costs involved are spread across various services including the Community Welfare Officer Service, the Refugee Legal Service, the Reception and Integration Agency and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal itself.