Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 January 2026
148. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the number of staff that are employed in the international protection office, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6955/26]
View answer149. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the financial cost of operating the international protection office in 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6956/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.
It is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced.
There has been significant investment across the end-to-end international protection process in the last number of years to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as enhancing the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants. There has also been investment in ICT capital expenditure and process improvements.
This investment has already demonstrated results. In 2025, the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared to approximately 14,100 in 2024: 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.
The table below shows expenditure (pay and non-pay) for the International Protection Office (IPO) from 2023 to 2025.
|
|
IPO |
|
|
€000’s |
|
2023* |
23,122 |
|
2024 |
34,984 |
|
2025 |
47,304 |
* IPO was set up as a separate cost centre in 2024. Prior to that it was included as a division within the immigration cost centres so the 2023 figure is estimated.
The IPO is also supported through centralised functions including ICT investment in modernisation and automated process improvements, HR and recruitment, Finance, Corporate Facilities, Policy, and Legal services among others.
The IPO utilises both staff and panel members to meet service needs. A total of 627 staff are currently employed which represents an increase of 338% on 2019 staffing.
The grade breakdown is as follows:
|
Grade |
TCO |
CO |
EO |
AO |
HEO |
PTP |
AP |
PO |
CIPO |
Total |
|
Staff |
11 |
141 |
314 |
34 |
89 |
5 |
28 |
5 |
1 |
628 |
CIPO - Chief International Protection Officer
PO – Principal Officer
AP – Assistant Principal
PTP – Professional Technical Post
HEO – Higher Executive Officer
AO – Administrative Officer
EO – Executive Officer
CO – Clerical Officer
TCO – Temporary Clerical Officer
In addition, there are 165 panel members contracted by the International Protection Office.
