Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
449. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current average processing time from initial international protection application to first instance decision; the average time to final determination including appeal; and the measures being implemented to reduce decision timelines in 2026. [13864/26]
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: a 44% increase. 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.
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.
All applicants refused international protection have a right to appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal who must then consider if the earlier International Protection Office determinations on refugee status and subsidiary protection should be affirmed or set aside.
In 2025, the median processing time for all appeals determined was 12.5 months. The median processing time for appeals under the accelerated procedure was 11 months.
My Department 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 will 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.
To prepare for its introduction, a phased transition that mirrors elements of the Pact is currently underway. As part of this, applicants from designated safe countries of origin, with some minor exceptions, are being processed under these new processes.
Under the Pact Asylum Border Procedure, which this pilot mirrors, a total of 12 weeks from registration to first instance decision and appeal is provided for. To date under the pact transition arrangements, median processing times have met this target.
