Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the Government's policy approach to managing immigration, given the recent rapid increase in migration and its impact on the housing crisis. [6881/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The right to seek international protection is a human right and when someone requests protection at the border of a country, that country’s authorities must examine that application in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law.

My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. 

I am committed to reducing processing times for International Protection applicants and we are taking steps to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible. 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.

A new accelerated procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin was introduced in November 2022 which is intended to significantly reduce processing times for first instance decisions. As it has only been recently introduced, my Department is monitoring implementation and the impact on processing times.

The Government has also committed additional funding of nearly €18m in 2023 to increase 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.

Overall, we are working to minimise the timeframe for receiving a decision on an international protection application, giving status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who are deemed to be not entitled to international protection.

In relation to temporary protection offered to those arriving from Ukraine, Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and my Department continues to work closely with colleagues across Government to ensure a coordinated national response. To the end of January almost 73,000 people have been granted temporary protection in Ireland.