Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
484. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number granted refugee status or subsidiary protection in each of the past ten years, broken down by country of origin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5342/26]
View answerI am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust, and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately a third.
There has been a significantly increased investment into the international protection system to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants.
In 2025, the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared to approximately 14,100 in 2024 resulting in a 44% increase. While the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) more than doubled the number of appeals closed from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,300 in 2025.
My Department also continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of 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 including standardised processing times for decisions: six months for a standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures and two months for processing applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in Europe.
The new International Protection Bill 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026.
The attached table details the number of International Protection applications made from 2015 up to 19 January 2026, by year and country of origin.
Additionally, the table below details the number of applications granted refugee status or subsidiary protection in each of the past ten years.
|
Refugee Status and Subsidiary Protection Grants 2015 - 2026* |
|
|
|
Year |
RS Grants |
SP Grants |
|
2015 |
324 |
226 |
|
2016 |
590 |
137 |
|
2017 |
685 |
101 |
|
2018 |
826 |
208 |
|
2019 |
951 |
163 |
|
2020 |
1032 |
153 |
|
2021 |
1105 |
95 |
|
2022 |
1926 |
93 |
|
2023 |
2864 |
212 |
|
2024 |
3918 |
319 |
|
2025 |
4288 |
405 |
|
2026 |
168 |
77 |
|
Total |
18677 |
2189 |
*to cob 19 January.
**The data is based on applicant latest final decision. Changes may occur due to data cleansing, permission revoked and if the applicant receives a further decision on foot of an appeal outcome.
My Department does not provide detailed statistics on international protection grant and refusal rates by nationality.
International Protection Applications by Nationality 2015-2026
