Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions being taken to decrease the processing time for international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12884/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in 2023.

It is my intention to continue ramping up investment enabling more staff to be recruited. This will support reaching key targets, including making 25,000 decisions in the IPO in 2025 and to increase the number of appeals at the IPAT completed over the course of 2025.

Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package for end-to-end investment in the entire immigration system.

These significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the international protection process. It will also fund increased investment in digital systems to modernise immigration systems, reduce processing times, increase removals (including with the new charter plane service), and strengthen border security.

Additionally, 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.

Ireland has also opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact. The Pact will significantly reform the approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a faster, more streamlined, and fairer system for addressing the challenges faced in this area.

Implementation of the Pact will benefit the State by delivering a digital-first, rights-based, fair and effective international protection system, where those who are entitled to protection receive it quickly and those who are not entitled to protection must return to their country of origin.

In the meantime, increased focus, along with investments and system enhancements are yielding results and will assist in putting the necessary capacity in place in advance of June 2026.