Over 15,000 applications for international protection are currently being assessed by Irish authorities, new figures have confirmed.
Justice Minister Simon Harris confirmed that people from at least 62 countries are currently seeking protection in Ireland.
The total number of applications made last year was 13,651.
However, in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe, Minister Harris confirmed that there are currently 15,258 applications pending with the International Protection Office (IPO).
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Some 17% of these applications have come from people from Georgia (2,599 people).
Another 2,175 of the applicants have come from Algeria, while 1,719 have sought protection from Somalia. Some 1,529 pending applications come from Nigeria, while 1,014 have come from Zimbabwe.
Although Ukrainian refugees can avail of the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Programme, which gives them the same rights as an Irish or EU citizen, there are 243 international protection applicants outstanding for people from the war-torn country.
Some 65 from the Russian Federation have pending protection applications, as do 20 people from Belarus.
Some 18 people from the United States of America also have live applications with the IPO.
Of the applicants currently being assessed, 30 have been deemed “stateless”, while the nationality of 175 people has not been disclosed due to confidentiality reasons. This happens when there are fewer than 10 people from the country seeking protection.
In response to Deputy McAuliffe, Minister Harris noted that the number of people seeking international protection has increased steadily.
He said: “The number of international protection applications last year was 13,651 – a significant increase on recent years. In 2019, the last comparable year pre-pandemic, 4,780 applications were made.
“Between January 1 and April 14 [of] this year 3,340 applications have been made.
“The IPO currently has 15,258 applications for international protection pending.
“Since last November a number of measures have been implemented to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with reforms to the application, interview and decision-making process. These reforms are having a significant impact on processing times.”
Minister Harris said that the Government has committed additional funding of nearly €18m for the IPO in 2023 that will go towards “improving efficiency in processing applications, including by increasing staff numbers”.
He added: “Overall, my Department is working to minimise the timeframe for receiving a decision on an international protection application, allowing those eligible to remain the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
“Those who are not entitled to the protection of the State will also be advised of that fact as quickly as possible.”
It comes as the State continues to grapple with accommodation issues for both international protection seekers and Ukrainian refugees. There are concerns that this situation could worsen as hotels revert to tourism ahead of the summer season.
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