Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for international protection currently being processed; the countries of origin of the applicants and the number of applicants from each country, in tabular form. [18839/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 applications last year was 13,651 – a significant increase on recent years. In 2019, the last comparable year pre-pandemic, 4,780 applications were made. Between January 1 and April 14 this year 3,340 applications have been made.

The IPO currently has 15,258 applications for international protection pending. A breakdown of those applications by nationality can be found in the table attached.

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. These reforms are having a significant impact on processing times.

The Government has also committed additional funding of nearly €18m for the IPO in 2023 that will go towards improving efficiency in processing applications, including by increasing staff numbers.

Overall, my Department is working to minimise the timeframe for receiving a decision on an international protection application, allowing those eligible to remain the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Those who are not entitled to the protection of the State will also be advised of that fact as quickly as possible.

The total number of applications pending with the IPO by nationality.

Applications Pending Week Ending 14 April 2023

*Where the number of applications for individual countries is low (less than 10), a breakdown is not provided. This is for reasons of confidentiality, as provided for under section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015.