Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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238. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the decisions made by the International Protection Office on international protection applications that were appealed in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5311/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of international protection applications made in 2024, by month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5313/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average processing times for those seeking international protection in the State as of 7 February 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5314/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average and mean processing times for appeals of international protection applications as of 7 February 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5315/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of return decisions issued in 2024 by his Department on applications for international protection; the total number of deportations and voluntary returns, by category, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5316/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243 together.

I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.

In recent years there has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system. This has allowed for a major increase in processing capacity and in 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered 14,156 first-decisions which was a 60% increase on the 8,873 first-decisions made in 2023. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed 3,103 appeals, an 82% increase on the 1,701 appeals completed in 2023.

I intend to further invest in the immigration system to support an ambitious target of 25,000 first-decisions to be made by the IPO and the IPAT also aims to increase the number of appeals completed over the course of 2025 with further recruitment of Tribunal Members to increase decision making capacity currently ongoing.

In 2024 there were 18,560 applications for International Protection made at the International Protection Office.

The table below details the number of International Protection applications made in 2024 by month:

In 2024, 8,814 appeals were accepted by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). It is important to note that there is no correlation between year of application and the year an appeal is made.

Accelerated processing was introduced in November 2022 and it now applies to those from designated safe countries of origin, applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe and citizens of countries from which there are the largest number of applicants.

Under the accelerated process, applicants currently receive a first decision within four months. For remaining applicants under the normal procedure the median processing time is 18 months.

The median processing time for International Protection Appeals to the end of January 2025 is 11.4 months.

There are a small number of international protection cases with particularly long processing times that disproportionately impact the average figure. Therefore, median times are provided to give a more accurate representation.

My Department has also taken action to improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. A charter service for deportation flights is now in place and the first flights will take place in the coming months. Charter flights will significantly increase capacity to conduct more enforced deportations.

Alongside this, enforced deportations are continuing on commercial flights. The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. forced return, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317).

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff currently employed by the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, by grade and by function, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5312/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.

In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first-decisions, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed 3,103 appeals. Increased staff levels, investment in technology and infrastructure and the increased use of Panel Members and Tribunal Members have allowed for this increase in case processing. The Tribunal members in IPAT, both full time and part time, are those making decisions with the administrative staff providing governanance and organisational support.

The table below details staff levels in the IPO:

The table below details staff levels at IPAT:

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