Pace of asylum deportations static despite big increase in applications

​The pace of processing deportations of unsuccessful asylum applicants has remained static, despite a big increase in arrivals seeking international protection (IP) here, according to new figures.

Figures released late yesterday show there were 812 cases resolved in 2023 where asylum-seekers were denied permission to remain but had appealed against the decision, leading to a final ruling.

This compared with 813 unsuccessful asylum-seekers facing deportation having their rejected appeal fully decided in 2022.

But the statistics come against a background of increasing numbers coming across the Border with Northern Ireland.

Figures are not yet available for last year, but the number of IP applications in 2022 was 13,650. This was 186pc up on 2019, the most recent ‘normal’ year, allowing for Covid lockdowns.

Independent TD Michael McNamara, to whom the data was released yesterday by the Department of Justice after a long delay, said the statistics were worrying.

They showed that 861 cases at the beginning of February had not been decided. This was where people had been denied entitlement to stay in Ireland, but were appealing against deportation.

With the cases not being called for adjudication, “it seems to me that large numbers have been able to stay in Ireland for a year or more on their pending appeal,” said Mr McNamara, who is an MEP candidate in Ireland South in the June European elections.

“The department can’t tell me how many denial appeals were waiting month by month. They should at least be able to make clear if the backlog is growing.

“My anecdotal information is that it is growing very rapidly. But I don’t see how they can come to grips with the problem if they don’t have the relevant data.”

Mr McNamara said the number of cases processed appeared to show there had been no staffing increase in response to the big increase in numbers.

“It seems to be clearly demonstrated that the adjudicators on appeal decisions are under-resourced,” he said.

“Meanwhile, applicants are going into direct provision and we are making millionaires out of the people involved in their upkeep.​

“It is quite obvious that the State would save a large amount of money by engaging in recruitment of more adjudicators to deal with the glut in cases.”

There were 559 resolutions of appeals against denial of leave to remain in 2020. This rose to 604 the following year. The new level of 812 or 813 represents an increase of 45pc since the pandemic.

Nearly 600 asylum-seekers were refused refugee status in January this year, more than double those refused in January 2022, according to separate figures.

Some 953 IP applications were made in January this year, with 62pc (595 applicants) refused leave to remain. This compares with 502 applications in January 2023 and 261 refusals, a ratio of about 50:50 in the right to stay or requirement to leave.

Mr McNamara said: “I am slow to accuse the minister and department of ineptitude, but they have been months supplying me with the figures I got ­today – and they can’t answer other questions, which suggests they don’t have the information.”

Signing off her reply to Mr McNamara yesterday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: ‘The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to address the challenges faced in this area.

“It will reduce the time people spend in state-provided accommodation and allow for the return of those not entitled to protection. The overall aim is to speed up processing, so people in need of our protection get it quickly – and those who don’t are returned to where they came from quickly and efficiently.”

The figures came as Tánaiste Micheál Martin said ministers would consider more assistance for gardaí amid growing numbers of violent anti-immigration protests at buildings earmarked for migrants.

Mr Martin promised “every support” would be given to the force in tackling these protests after three garda cars were damaged and attacked with stones at Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, on Thursday night.

Four people appeared in court yesterday in relation to the violence.

The Fianna Fáil leader said: “We will give every support that we have to the gardaí in the light of what is without question an increasing level of viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris also condemned the scenes as “reprehensible”.

The Department of Integration confirmed it still planned to use the vacant property to house asylum-seekers, adding that it “strongly condemns any alleged attempts to drive division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking asylum. Acts such as these achieve nothing but endanger people’s lives and homes.”

It said a community engagement team had been set up to speak directly with elected representatives, local authorities, groups and individuals.

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