Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason it is taking 19 months for asylum seekers to receive an interview with the International Protection Office as highlighted by the UNHCR; the steps he will take to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19308/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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On 31 December 2016, the International Protection Act 2015 was commenced, providing for the introduction of a single application procedure for people seeking international protection in the State. The 2015 Act replaces the previous sequential application system with a single application process, for asylum, subsidiary protection and permission to remain in the State, bringing Ireland into line with the processing arrangements applicable in other EU Member States. The structural causes of delays have been removed with the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015.  The main challenge now faced is the need to quickly process the substantial cases on hand many of which were carried over from the previous system. 

Considerable administrative resources were required by the International Protection Office (IPO) to get the new single procedure process up and running in the first part of 2017 and this transition process led to a shorter processing year. Nevertheless, the IPO succeeded in scheduling over 2,400 single procedure interviews (including in respect of EU relocation cases) once the process was up and running in 2017. Some 1,780 recommendations/decisions in respect of international protection and permission to remain were made by the IPO in 2017. This included some 750 recommendations in respect of the grant of international protection.

As of 27 April 2018, there are a total of 5,300 applications for international protection pending in the IPO. Some 2,200 of these applications were made before the commencement of the 2015 Act but were not finalised by the former Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the former Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) by that date. These applications reverted to be processed by the IPO under the transitional provisions of the 2015 Act. This has added significantly to the IPO’s caseload.  Furthermore, there was a 30% increase in applications for international protection during 2017 (including EU relocation cases) which has put additional pressure on the system.

Significant additional resources have and are being allocated to the IPO to assist it in undertaking its statutory functions with a view to processing the volume of cases on hands as soon as possible. The current staffing complement in the IPO is 130. In addition, there are some 55 serving members of the IPO’s Legal Processing Panel.In the first 4 months of 2018, 1,100 single procedure interviews have been scheduled by the IPO.  Thus far, some 1,170 recommendations/decisions in respect of international protection have been made by the IPO in 2018 (to 27 April 2018).  This includes EU relocation cases, permission to remain and permission to remain reviews. There were also some 27 subsidiary protection cases dealt with under the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013.  Based on current predictions, the IPO is in line to make over 3,500 recommendations/decisions in 2018 which is a substantial increase on the 1,780 recommendations/decisions made last year.

Notwithstanding the increase in the volume of cases being processed by the IPO, it is recognised that currently many applicants for international protection are still waiting too long for their first instance interviews in the IPO and to have their cases decided.  These challenges are being addressed by deploying increased resources and a continued review of efficiency and effective use of those resources, having due regard to the requirements of the 2015 Act, in order to maximise quality output and value for money for the taxpayer. In this regard, it is planned to increase the strength of the IPO Processing Panel over the coming months following public advertisement and interview.

Prioritisation of international protection applications is provided for in the International Protection Act 2015 subject to the need for fairness and efficiency. When the ‘Application for International Protection Questionnaire (IPO 2)’ and other supporting documentation is returned by applicants, the IPO is scheduling applications for interview primarily on the basis of date of application (oldest cases first). However, certain categories of applicant are also being prioritised such as those who arrive under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), from refugee generating countries (such as Syria) and unaccompanied minors. The IPO’s approach to prioritisation has been agreed with the UNHCR. It has been brought to the attention of the relevant NGOs at the IPO Customer Service Liaison Panel and is also available on its website: