Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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559. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the asylum process for refugees from countries other than Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4296/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department will continue to take all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively. My Department is committed to reducing processing times for international protection applicants.    

During 2022, the number of people claiming international protection increased significantly, with 13,651 applications made with the International Protection Office (IPO). This is a 186% increase on the same period in 2019, the last year in which application numbers were not impacted by COVID-19.

Over the last number of months, the International Protection Office has implemented a number of measures to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with reforms to the application, interview and decision making process, and these are having a significant impact upon processing times.

Notwithstanding the very large increase in the number of applications during 2022, the median processing time for all international protection cases (which includes decisions on permission to remain) processed to completion by the IPO in Quarter 4 of 2022 was 10 months. The median processing time for cases processed to completion for all of 2022 was 18 months.

On November 8 2022, the International Protection Office (IPO) introduced accelerated procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin. The Minister designates certain countries as safe countries of origin pursuant to section 72 of the International Protection Act, 2015.

The new accelerated process introduced in November 2022 is intended to significantly reduce processing times. As it has only been recently introduced, the IPO are monitoring implementation and the impact on processing times but I am confident that these new measures will have a significant impact.

The Government has also committed additional funding of nearly €18m in 2023 that will also go towards increasing efficiency in processing applications, including by increasing staff numbers at the International Protection Office. Further reforms are being examined with a view to speeding up the processing of applications.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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560. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time it takes to process an asylum application in Ireland; the number of people currently waiting to have their application processed; if he will outline the longest processing time for an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4297/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. 

During 2022 the number of people claiming international protection increased significantly, with 13,651 applications made with the IPO. This is a 186% increase on the same period in 2019, the last year in which application numbers were not impacted by COVID-19.

Since the introduction of new efficiency measures during 2022 the IPO have been able to increase the number of first instance recommendations and permission to remain decisions being made by the IPO by 44%, when compared with the same period pre-Covid in 2019.

Notwithstanding the very large increase in the number of applications during 2022, the median processing time for all international protection cases (which includes decisions on permission to remain) and processed to completion by the IPO in Quarter 4 of 2022 was 10 months for all cases. The median processing time for cases processed to completion for all of 2022 was 18 months.

I can inform the Deputy that the number of applications pending at the International Protection Office at week ending 20 January 2023 was 14,687, the majority of which were made in 2022.

The longest application processing time for 2022 was 170 months, i.e. a first instance determination issued in 2022, but 170 months after initial application. It should be noted that unusually long processing times for individual applications such as this are typically attributable to circumstances outside of the control of the IPO. The reasons for such extended delays in processing can include an applicant who may have an ongoing Judicial Review, certain applicants may be uncontactable or missing including children with separate applications where a parent has already received a decision, and some applicants may not be co-operating with the application process itself.

92% of cases decided in 2022 were processed in 3 years or less and 62% of cases decided in 2022 were processed in 2 years or less

Over the last number of months, the International Protection Office has implemented a number of measures to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with reforms to the application, interview and decision making process, and these are having a significant impact upon processing times. 

The Government has also committed additional funding of nearly €18m in 2023 that will also go towards increasing efficiency in processing applications, including by increasing staff numbers at the International Protection Office. Further reforms are being examined with a view to speeding up the processing of applications.