Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1586. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has conducted a national capacity assessment to determine the sustainable intake level under asylum and family reunification combined, given constraints in housing, health, and education services. [45564/25]

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

I can assure the Deputy that I will take all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively.

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 seriously.

Family reunification as provided for in Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 allows people granted international Protection status to apply for certain family members to join them in the State. Any person granted international protection status is eligible to apply and must be able to provide sufficient evidence that demonstrates the family members' relationship and their identity.

My Department is responsible for providing reception conditions for international protection applicant and the current focus is on developing State-owned accommodation from a range of sources, building a sustainable system and reducing reliance on commercial providers over time.

We also aim to gain for greater control over dispersal patterns and to continue and build quality engagement with local communities. In the interim, there will remain a need to continue to develop emergency accommodation solutions to meet need.

The Deputy will be aware of the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which Ireland has opted into, is due to become operational in June 2026. The Pact is designed to create a more unified approach to managing migration flows across the EU while ensuring respect for human rights. It is a package of new and existing legislative measures which will reform the Common European Asylum System.

In terms of wider migration, the Deputy may also wish to know that the Programme for Government committed to publishing a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how the Government intends to meet the demands and the opportunities facing our society and economy over the next decade. This Strategy is currently in development and will be published in 2026.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1587. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the additional funding allocated since 2022 to manage the increase in asylum and family reunification applications; and the projected expenditure for 2025 to 2027. [45565/25]

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

I can confirm that my Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.

There has been significant investment across the end-to-end international protection process in the last number of years with additional staffing as well as increased financial and technical resources being made available to Immigration Service Delivery, International Protection Office, International Protection Appeals Tribunal and the Legal Aid Board. There has also been investment in ICT capital expenditure and process improvements.

This investment has already demonstrated results. 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. Further growth in decisions will be delivered in 2025.

The table below provides information on the actual spend (pay and non-pay) for the International Protection Office (IPO) and International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) from 2022 to 2024.

The unit responsible for family reunification under the Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 forms part of Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) section of my Department. As my Department does not budget at individual business unit level I am unable to provide the information requested.

As the Deputy may be aware, Departmental budgets are approved on an annual basis and the Department is currently in the process of preparing its budget submission for 2026 and 2027.