Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
724. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the median processing time for international protection applications concluded in 2025, as reported by the International Protection Office. [5688/26]
View answerThere has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.
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.
In 2025 the overall median processing time for IPO first instance decisions was 14 months. Accelerated cases were processed in four months, while standard cases were processed in 16 months.
Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which will come into effect in June this year. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU, and through the introduction of streamlined and faster processing times.
Last week, I published the new International Protection Bill 2026 to give 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.
