Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2024
380. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to outline how much of the money allocated to the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in Budget 2025 that is for new measures. [40195/24]
View answer375. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the total budget allocation in Budget 2025 for the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal; and for a breakdown of the budget allocation, by existing service levels and new measures. [40142/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 375 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.
I have significantly increased investment into the international protection system, which has allowed for a major increase in processing capacity and the introduction of accelerated processing.
In July 2023, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme involves unparalleled multi year programme of investment in staff, panel members, reengineered processes, and technology. My Department has implemented measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
This has already demonstrated results. One of the priority areas of focus has been to recruit both civil servants and panel members to increase case processing. The IPO now has 548 staff, an increase of 158% over 2022, the number of decisions issuing from the IPO has trebled over this time, and they are confident of delivering over 14,000 decisions this year.
The total budget this year for the IPO was €31.8 million and €9.2m in respect of the IPAT.
Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package for end-to-end investment in the entire immigration system.
The breakdown of the package includes €9.5m allocated for ISD and IPO, as well as an additional €2.4m allocated for IPAT.
These significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the international protection process, with approximately 400 further staff to be recruited. This will support a target of approximately 25,000 decisions by the IPO compared to approximately 14,000 in 2024.
It will also fund increased investment in digital systems to modernise immigration systems, reduce processing times, increase removals (including with a new charter plane service), and strengthen border security.
The additional monies will also go towards funding readiness work for the introduction of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact requirements in June 2026.
All aspects of the international protection modernisation programme will continue to be kept under review and improved on an ongoing basis.
