Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1060.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time it takes to process international protection applicants from South Africa; the length of time to process appeals to refused leave to remain in the State; if they are entitled to legal aid when being interviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[33941/24]

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

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.

I am ramping up investment at every level of the international protection system, including in the International Protection Office (IPO). In recent years, the IPO has expanded its processing capacity, doubled its budget, and invested in process reform and digitisation.

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 now has 517 staff, an increase of 144% since 2022.

This investment has led to the number of decisions issuing increasing threefold and is set to increase further this year. Recent strategic policy and operational approaches to speed up applications from safe countries and the countries with the highest number of applications are also proving effective. Applications from designated safe countries have dropped by over 70% since these procedures were introduced in November 2022.

South Africa was designated as a Safe Country in November 2022. Applications made prior to that date, as standard cases, have a median processing time of 79 weeks. Applications after that date, as accelerated cases, have a median processing time of 11 weeks.

The median processing time for appeals from South Africa received in the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) in 2024 to 31st July is 9.2 months.

This year, asylum applications in Ireland have increased by 82.4% with 14,030 applications to 2nd September 2024, compared to 7,690 applications in the same period in 2023.

To ensure the gains made through the recent reform efforts are not compromised by a significant increase in applications I intend to further increase resourcing of the entire end-to-end international protection process. This will include further additional staffing, to maintain processing times, significantly increase removals and enhance border security.

All applicants have the right to consult a legal representative about the making of their application for international protection. They can avail of the services of the Legal Aid Board (LAB), which:

(i) provides legal assistance and advice in support of their application.

(ii) advises them in relation to the completion of their International Protection Questionnaire including any grounds that they may wish to set out for the purpose of requesting that the Minister should give them permission to remain in the State (Ireland).

(iii) assists them in the preparation for their international protection interview and any written representations to the Minister.

(iv) in the case of a negative recommendation on their application, provides representation for them in any appeal they may take to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT).