2445. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average length of time applicants for International Protection are waiting for their first assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59231/26]

2446. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average length of time applicants for International Protection are waiting for appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59232/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2445 and 2446 together.

My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.

There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system over the last number of years which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity and demonstrates a strong commitment to reducing cases on hand.

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. This year as of 19th July, IPAT has already closed 5,218 appeals and is on track to significantly exceed the number of appeals closed in 2025.

To date in 2026 the median processing time for IPO first instance decisions is 12 months (accelerated cases are processed in 3 months, while standard cases are processed in 16 months). These times reflect cases processed under the International Protection Act 2015. Since 12 June applications are being processed under the International Protection Act 2026, and it is too early to provide median processing times for applications under that legislation.

The median processing time for International Protection appeals is 13.3 months. The median processing time under the accelerated procedure is 6.9 months and 16.5 months for all other appeals.

As the Deputy will be aware, the International Protection Act 2026 entered into effect on 12 June 2026 and gives effect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

As part of these new measures a new international protection appeals body, the Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA) was established on the 12 June which will process all appeals made under the International Protection 2026 Act. The establishment of TARA delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to ‘Replace the International Protection Appeals Tribunal with a new, faster appeals system’. IPAT will continue to process appeals arising under the International Protection Act 2015 (as amended).

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.

Faster processing will mean that applicants spend less time in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation, and this will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State. Faster decision-making will also mean that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner, and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner.