Matt Carthy
Ceist:3. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of appeals currently pending before the International Protection Appeals Tribunal. [70838/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 7 October 2026
Ceisteanna (3)
Freagraí ó Béal (8 píosaí cainte)
The previous system has a backlog. What is the current backlog and, more important, what actions are the Minister and his Department taking to ensure the backlog is reduced, if not cleared, by the end of the year?
It is a central priority for me and for the Minister that Ireland's immigration system is firm, fair and effective. The number of international protection applications had been rising over recent years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers fell by approximately one third. The number of applications received up to the end of August 2026 shows a further reduction compared with the same period in 2025. Over the same period, there has been a significant increase in investment in the international protection system. Combined with digitisation and process re-engineering, this has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity and demonstrates a strong commitment to reducing the number of cases on hand. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, IPAT, more than doubled the number of appeals closed from 3,100 in 2024 to 6,300 in 2025. As of 1 October 2026, IPAT had already closed 6,902 appeals this year, exceeding the total number of appeals completed in the whole of 2025. As of 1 October 2026, IPAT had 21,203 appeals on hand.
The increased resourcing of the international protection system has been particularly evident at IPAT in recent years, with the Tribunal's budget increasing by 95% between 2023 and 2025. The number of administrative staff at IPAT has increased from 37 at the beginning of 2023 to 88 currently. The number of whole-time members has increased from three at the beginning of 2025 to five currently while the number of part-time members has increased from 44 to 134 over the same period. In addition to measures aimed at improving processing more generally, an operational plan between Ireland and the European Union Agency for Asylum provides quasi-judicial support to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal to assist decision-making and reduce the number of cases on hand.
We are told that there are 21,000 cases under appeal. This was entirely predictable. How did the Government allow this to happen? How did we get to these unprecedented levels? The answer is that the Department has prioritised PR over efficiency. I have been in radio studios with the Minister of State when he has spoken about the reduction in the timeframe for international protection applications but he never refers to the fact that the timeframe for appeals has actually been extended, leading us to now have 21,000 people awaiting appeals. I am sure there is a concern that, as the new Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals essentially takes over the IPAS system, the IPAS system will be permitted to become a complete mess, if it is not already. Has the Department carried out any analysis of the cost impact of the lengthy appeals processes that are now in place? If so, what was the outcome?
As the Deputy will know, we have discussed this on many occasions in the past. The growth in appeals has been triggered by the fact that we have increased the processing time. Obviously, the number of appeals will grow as a result. As I indicated to the Deputy in my earlier reply, we have put in the resources. The Minister and I fully intend to ensure that system continues to work and that we successfully process those appeals in conjunction with what is now taking place under the pact. Under the pact, we have seen a significant reduction in processing times. Both of us and the staff involved, whose numbers have increased substantially, are firmly committed to getting through the backlog and processing these applications as quickly as possible.
I have a couple of supplementary questions. Does the Minister of State accept that delayed appeals mean increased costs as longer stays in IPAS accommodation result in higher costs for the taxpayer and longer periods of uncertainty? He has mentioned the figures for this year, including the completion of 6,900 appeals. I might have missed him saying it but is it not a fact that up to 30 staff were brought in from the European Union Agency for Asylum to assist in clearing that backlog? How many of those staff are still operating and supporting the Department? It is my understanding that those support arrangements are due to expire on 31 December 2027. What is the plan for after that? Does the Minister of State envisage the appeals backlog being cleared at that stage? It would be useful for the House to have answers to those questions.
Significant resources will be applied to the appeals process to reduce those numbers over the course of this year. It is very important to note that we have an ongoing relationship with the European agency in supporting our work. I accept the Deputy's point that, the longer people are in a process, the more it costs. That is the reason the Minister and I were absolutely focused on making the necessary changes to the process to deliver those faster processing times and the associated savings, as we are currently working to do. We are really beginning to see the impact of that. By the way, at every single opportunity, the Deputy stood up and opposed this process, saying it would not work. The reality is that, this year, we will probably see fewer than 10,000 people coming into our country. The figure was more than 20,000 just a few years ago. We are absolutely committed not only to successfully delivering the new system-----
The Minister of State blames the migration pact for those numbers increasing then.
-----but to ensuring that the people already in the system are processed as quickly as possible.