Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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1047. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum applications made nationally in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12359/23]

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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1048. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the countries of origin of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland in the past two years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12360/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1047 and 1048 together.

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.

The number of International Protection applicants last year was 13,651 – a significant increase on recent years. 2019, the last comparable year pre pandemic, saw 4,780 applicants. As of 10 March, 2,436 applicants have sought protection in 2023.

The total number of applications for international protection made in the past two years, March 2021 to end February 2023 is 18,209. The breakdown by nationality can be found in the table attached.

Overall, my Department is 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.

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.

In addition to resourcing, it is important to acknowledge that action has already been taken by my Department to manage the high volume of applications by utilising all of its current resources. Since last November a number of measures have been implemented to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with reforms to the application, interview and decision making process, and these are having a significant impact on processing times.

Further reforms are being examined with a view to speeding up the processing of applications.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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1049. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers given leave to remain and the number of family members awarded joint family visas in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12362/23]

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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1050. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum applicants refused leave to remain in the past two years; their country of origin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12363/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1049 and 1050 together.

Since the International Protection Act 2015 commenced on 31 December 2016, the International Protection Office of my Department has carried out the function of considering permission to remain (under section 49 of the 2015 Act), in respect of those applicants who have been refused international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) at first instance.

In the permission to remain element of the process, each case is given a detailed consideration on its individual merits under all of the prescribed headings. This includes a full consideration of their private and family rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, humanitarian factors, as well as consideration of a person’s work situation, among other issues, before a decision is taken to grant or to refuse permission to remain.

All applicants refused international protection have a right to appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) who must consider if the earlier International Protection Office (IPO) determinations on refugee status and subsidiary protection should be affirmed or set aside.

Where the IPAT upholds the IPO recommendation to refuse international protection, and if permission to remain has also been refused by the IPO, the applicant can make submissions for consideration as part of a formal permission to remain review by my Department.

This review is in place to provide for situations where an applicant’s circumstances may have changed in a material way since the initial decision was made to refuse permission to remain. Any decision taken to grant permission to remain under the review mechanism can only be made once the international protection appeal has been refused by the IPAT.

The statistical information sought by the Deputy in relation to international protection applicants and leave to remain is set out in Tables 1 and 2 attached.

Family reunification under Section 56 of the international Protection Act 2015 is open to any individual for whom a refugee or subsidiary protection declaration is in force.

Information regarding family reunification applications granted under International Protection Act 2015 is set out in Table 3 attached.

Where an applicant does not qualify under Section 56 of the 2015 Act, an alternative avenue for family reunification is available under my Department's Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification.