Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2025
253. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average total time, from initial application to final appeal decision, for IPAS applications that were refused in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54289/25]
View answer254. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average period of time between a first instance refusal for an IPAS application and the submission of an appeal by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54290/25]
View answer255. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS decisions issued in each month of 2025 to date; the numbers and percentage where applications were granted and refused; and the number and percentage of those decisions that were appealed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54291/25]
View answer256. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS decisions that were issued in each month of 2025 to date; the numbers and percentage were appeals were successful and unsuccessful, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54292/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254, 255 and 256 together.
I can assure the Deputy it is my intention to continue the investment in the end-to-end international protection process to speed up decision making.
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.
The overall median processing time for first instance decisions was 16 months in 2024, and is currently 14 months in 2025. The processing time for applications under the accelerated process is four months.
In 2025 so far the IPO has made 15,332 decisions, 82% of these first instance decisions have been refused, withdrawn or deemed inadmissible.
The table below details the number of First Instance decisions issued in each month of 2025
|
Month |
Total |
|
January |
1,781 |
|
February |
1,624 |
|
March |
1,539 |
|
April |
1,594 |
|
May |
1,518 |
|
June |
1,593 |
|
July |
1,768 |
|
August |
1,674 |
|
September |
1,941 |
|
October* |
299 |
*To COB 6th October. Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
The table below details the outcome of the First Instance decisions issued on international protection applications in 2025.
|
Date - Year |
2025* |
% |
|
Refusal |
11,806 |
77% |
|
RS Grant |
2,284 |
15% |
|
SP Grant |
276 |
2% |
|
PTR Grant |
222 |
1% |
|
Withdrawal |
419 |
3% |
|
Inadmissible |
325 |
2% |
|
Total |
15,332 |
|
*To COB 6th October. Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Data on the length of time refused applications spend in the international protection system is not stored in a manner which allows the data to be easily extracted.
International protection applicants have 15 days to appeal a recommendation made by the International Protection office. An appeal must be lodged in 10 days in the case of inadmissible appeals, subsequent application appeals, Dublin III Regulation Appeals and Appeals where the applicant’s country of origin has been deemed to be a safe country of origin.
Data on the average time between IPO decision date and the appeal being received is not stored in a manner which allows the data to be easily extracted.
In 2025, as of 28 September, 9,669 International Protection Appeals have been accepted.
The Tribunal has accepted a further 932 appeals relating to Subsequent Application Appeals, Inadmissibility Appeals, Appeals for Return under Dublin III, and Appeals concerning Reception Conditions.
As of 21 September 2025, 74% of all recommendations/decisions made in the IPO over the last 6-month period resulted in an appeal made to the Tribunal. This 'conversion rate' has risen from a rate of 56% in August 2024.
The overall median processing times for appeals determined by IPAT was 10 months in 2024, and in 2025 the overall median processing time is 12.7 months. The processing time for accelerated appeals is currently 11.5 months.
The table below shows the appeal decisions in 2025 to 28 September.
|
Issued 01/01/25 to 28/09/2025 |
|
|
|
Granted/Set Aside – Refugee Status (RS) |
884 |
26% |
|
Granted/Set Aside - Subsidiary Protection (SP) |
87 |
3% |
|
Refused/Affirmed – RS and SP |
2,363 |
71% |
|
Grand Total |
3,334 |
|
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
** A decision issued in a particular year may relate to an application submitted in a previous year.
The Tribunal has closed a further 1,113 appeals relating Subsequent Application Appeals, Appeals for Return under Dublin III, Withdrawn appeals and Appeals on decision concerning Reception Conditions. This brings the total appeals closed to date in 2025 to 4,447.
Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which will come into effect in June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
My Department continues to focus on preparing for the Pact in advance of June 2026.
