Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

552.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality procedures, inclusive of the processing time for first instance decisions, as well as IPAT appeals and judicial reviews in applicable cases, in tabular form [25205/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department have taken a significant number of measures to increase the capacity of the international protection system.

In November 2022, I introduced an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries of origin. These applicants now typically receive a first instance decision within three months, a significant reduction from a norm of 22 to 26 months in recent years.

In July 2023, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme involved unparalleled investment in staff, panel members, reengineered processes, and technology. We have implemented measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.

I have and I will continue to ramp up resources at every stage of the international protection system.

One of the priority areas of focus has been to recruit both civil servants and panel members, to increase case processing. The International Protection Office (IPO) now has over 400 staff, an increase of 95% over 2022. The IPO made 2,482 first instance determinations in 2021, 4,982 in 2022, 9,000 in 2023 and are confident of delivering over 14,000 decisions this year.

Since I introduced accelerated processing in November 2022, applications from eight designated safe countries have dropped by 50%. I added two additional countries to the safe country list earlier this year and seven more are under review.

I recently extended accelerated processing to whatever country has the highest number of applicants in the previous quarter. This will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Reforms to the international protection process will continue in 2024. Approximately €34m additional funding was allocated in Budget 2024 to the IPO and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) to continue to scale up processing. These measures, and all other aspects of the international protection modernisation programme will continue to be kept under review and improved on a continuous ongoing basis.

The EU Migration and Asylum Pact, if approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas, will introduce legally binding processing times, increase screening and border checks, and improve the efficiency and efficacy of the returns system.

The table below details IPO First Instance Decision Processing Times in 2024:

*To 5th June.

The median processing time for appeals decided in 2024 to May 31st was 8.5 Months.

In relation to Judicial Reviews relating to International Protection, I can advise that management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution.

Additionally, the scheduling of individual court cases and the allocation of court business are entirely matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.

All data provided is correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.