Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of refugees or asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their residency and remaining in direct provision facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22823/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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On 31 December 2016, the International Protection Act 2015 (IPA 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. This brings Ireland into line with the processing arrangements applicable in other EU Member States. However, the Act also contained transitional arrangements, which has put further pressures on the processing of applications.  The main challenge now faced is the need to quickly process the substantial number of cases on hand many of which were carried over from the previous system. 

As of 17 May 2018, there are a total of 3,002 applications for international protection pending in the International Protection Office awaiting a first instance decision, where the applicant is accommodated under the system of direct provision.  Over half of these cases are less than one year in the system and 95% are two years or less. This is a major improvement from the situation when the McMahon Working Group reported on the matter in June 2015.

Some 535 of the 3,002 pending 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 International Protection Act 2015.

Persons who are recognised as refugees or as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have already had their status determined.