Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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81. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the implementation of changes to the asylum system following the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015; if she will be consulting with asylum seekers and organisations representing them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24393/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The commencement of the International Protection Act 2015 on 31 December 2016 represents a fundamental reform of the system for assessing the applications of those seeking international protection in Ireland. The new system will ensure that all aspects of a person's claim (Asylum, Subsidiary Protection and Permission to Remain) are considered together rather than sequentially, as heretofore. The new single application procedure under the International Protection Act 2015, will, in time, significantly accelerate the protection determination process and by extension will reduce the length of time which applicants spend in State provided accommodation.

All applications for international protection are being processed under the new arrangements in the International Protection Office, IPO (formerly the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner - ORAC) and any appeals arising in relation to asylum and subsidiary protection applications will be heard by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, IPAT (formerly the Refugee Appeals Tribunal - RAT). The staff of the IPO (the Chief International Protection Officer and international protection officers) and IPAT are independent in the performance of their international protection functions.

Recruitment of additional staff for the IPO and for IPAT together with part-time new Tribunal Members for IPAT is ongoing to enhance the capacity to bring the Single Procedure effectively on stream, further reduce the cases on hand transitioning from the old system and to produce first instance decisions as soon as possible. Interviewing of applicants under the International Protection Act 2015 commenced at the end of January 2017 in respect of relocation cases and March 2017 for all other cases. The issuing of recommendations commenced at the end of January 2017. I am advised that the Chief International Protection Officer intends to schedule applications to the IPO on the basis of date of application (oldest case first) but certain categories of applicant such as those from refugee generating countries such as Syria and unaccompanied minors are also being prioritised. The IPO's approach to prioritisation has been agreed with the UNHCR and is available on its web site www.ipo.gov.ie.

A comprehensive information process has also been put in place to ensure that protection applicants and their legal representatives are aware of the provisions of the 2015 Act. Earlier this year the IPO, in addition to placing advertisements in the national media and meeting the UNHCR, IPO Customer Services Liaison Panel and other relevant NGOs, wrote to approximately 3,000 applicants whose cases were not finalised by the ORAC or RAT and to all legal representatives on record to inform them of the commencement of the relevant provisions of the 2015 Act and how the transitional arrangements would affect their applications. All applicants also received a suite of documentation including an information note, information booklet and an Application for International Protection Questionnaire (IPO 2). The questionnaire and information booklet are now available in 19 languages. They were also informed that extra time is available, if required, for the completion of the Questionnaire and the wisdom of accessing legal advice in completing the questionnaire is stressed by the IPO. Some 2,420 questionnaires had been returned to the IPO by the end of April 2017.

A series of nationwide information seminars for applicants on the Act presented by staff of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) and the IPO have commenced in RIA centres throughout the country and will continue through May and June. Applicants will have an opportunity to ask the IPO and INIS staff any questions they may have. The Deputy is advised that a call centre in the IPO (at 01 6028000) is also available to applicants or their representatives to answer any queries arising from implementation of the Act.