Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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524. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of refugee and international protection applications that have been made for each of the past five years; the number of refugee and international protection applications still awaiting a first decision currently; the number of refugee and international protection applications awaiting an appeal decision; and the average and longest time for the initial decision to made and the appeal decision to be made. [24087/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously.

The total number of international protection applications last year was 13,651.

Between 1 January and 12 May 2023, a total of 4,008 applications for international protection have been made. As at 12 May 2023 there were 15,260 cases on hand with the IPO.

As at 1 May 2023 there were 1,289 appeals pending at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

The table below sets out the number of international protection applications received by the IPO for the years 2018 to date.

*Week ending 12 May 2023

Notwithstanding the very large increase in the number of applications during 2022 and to date in 2023, there has been a significant reduction in median processing times for first instance decisions in 2022, down to 10 months in quarter 4 from a norm of 22-26 months earlier last year. The median processing time for cases processed to completion for all of 2022 was 18 months. The median processing time for all cases processed to completion in quarter 1 of 2023 was 10 months.

Median processing times for Q1 2023 for all appeals decided was 5.1 months.

Median figures are collated rather than an average, as cases with unusually long or short processing times can skew the data. The median figure is more representative of the ‘normal’ processing time.

I can confirm for the Deputy that the longest pending case time currently in the IPO is 139 months. I can further assure the Deputy that this type of situation will only arise in the most exceptional of circumstances. These can include cases before the courts, or where an applicant disengages with the process for an extended period of time, or cannot be contacted. Typically, where an application remains in processing for a longer period this is due to reasons outside the control of my Department.

The International Protection Act 2015, places a duty on applicants to cooperate with the process. The International Protection Office (IPO) will write to applicants who are not cooperating with the process at their last known address giving them the opportunity to cooperate. The IPO copies this letter to their legal representative where known. In the event an applicant does not respond, i.e., continues not cooperating with the process, the IPO will proceed to make a recommendation, up to and including a Deportation Order, on their application based on the information available to it.

Regarding cases at appeal stage, the longest open case has been with the IPAT for 60 months. This case, which has been an outlier in relation to processing times, has been recently reassigned to a new tribunal member with a view to progressing the matter to conclusion as a matter of priority. The Tribunal continues to review all outstanding appeals and in particular, a small number of appeals that have been outstanding over longer than 12 months.

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.