22 August, For Immediate Release

The Irish Refugee Council has launched three essential information resources: 

• an online Information Hub for people seeking protection
• the AIDA 2023 annual review of Ireland’s international protection process
• an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

The resources are intended to meet the growing demand for comprehensive and accurate information about Ireland’s international protection system at a time of increased polarisation, misinformation, and disinformation.

The Information Hub provides people seeking protection and refugees with access to up-to-date information about the international protection process, particularly on entitlements, how to obtain official documents and access crucial services. People seeking protection who are homeless can also access information on supports available to them. The videos on the Hub are in English and Arabic, with subtitles currently available in Pashtu and French.

The FAQ provides updated answers to many of the topical questions on international protection, including why a person may not produce a passport on arrival, what happens when they lodge their international protection application, their accommodation entitlements, and statistical trends in comparison with other European Union (EU) countries.

The European Council on Refugees and Exiles’ Asylum Information Database (AIDA) 2023 annual reports contain information on asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention and content of international protection across 23 countries. The Irish Refugee Council compiles the annual report for Ireland.

The Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service Manager Hanna Dwyer said:

“The Information Hub is our response to the growing demand for services observed by us and other organisations working with people seeking protection and refugees. We hope to expand the number of languages offered beyond the four currently available. We believe this approach effectively alleviates the pressure on our services, while ensuring the needs of people who use our services are met at a time and place convenient for them. We are grateful to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the funding that made the production of the videos possible.”

The author of the AIDA report for Ireland, Hayley Dowling of the Irish Refugee Council, said:  “In a year that saw numerous unprecedented challenges within the international protection process, the report provides a detailed, 150+ page overview of the main developments in the areas of asylum procedure, reception conditions, detention and content of international protection throughout 2023 to May 2024.” 

“It is important to note that, while there was a significant increase in the number of people seeking and granted protection, we received only 1.2% of EU’s applications and our recognition rate was 5.02% below the EU one and appeals rates are also down compared to 2022.” 

The Irish Refugee Council Policy and Advocacy team responsible for putting together the FAQ said:

“An unfortunate development over these past months has been the amplification of misinformation and divisive narratives from those who seek to sow division and unrest in our communities. We are most concerned about the normalising of harmful stereotyping and the distinct lack of easy to access and understandable information on protection issues. The FAQ provides accurate information on the international protection process, people's rights and entitlements related to seeking protection, as well as the legislative duties we have domestically and as a member state of the EU.”

Some key statistics of the AIDA report are: 

Applications for international protection in 2023: 

• Ireland: 13,276 protection applications lodged.
• European Union: 1,100,000 applications.
• Irish applications as a proportion of EU applications: 1.2%
• 182 unaccompanied minor applications.

First instance decisions and the International Protection Office: 

• 8,442 decisions made (does not include applications dismissed as inadmissible).
• 9,740 personal interviews
• International protection recognition rate (refugee and subsidiary protection): 38.08%
• EU refugee status recognition rate: 44%
• Permission to remain: 6.28%
• Median processing time:  

• 13 months for applications under the ordinary procedure. 
• 8 weeks for applications under the accelerated procedure in place since November 2022.  

§  18,314 cases pending before the IPO.

IPAS, Direct Provision and Reception Conditions: 

• 27,106 people living in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Direct Provision of which 6,067 were children. 270 IPAS centres (as of January 2024).
• 216 emergency centres (as of January 2024).
• 5,960 persons with status residing in Direct Provision due to lack of housing available within the community (as of December 2023).
• From 2018 - January 2024, 20,288 first time labour market access permits were issued.

Appeals and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal: 

• Received 1,175 appeals 
• 1,582 appeal decisions made 
• IPAT recognition rate (refugee status and subsidiary protection): 26.73%  

• 2022 IPAT recognition rate: 38%
• 2022 EU average appeal recognition rate: 33.83% 

• 2,091 appeals scheduled for hearing, 1,137 of which proceeded remotely 

• Median processing time for an appeal: 5.5 months 
• Reception Conditions appeals: 6 appeals received.  

Family reunification and Afghan Admissions Programme:  

• 820 family reunification applications received for 2,330 family members, while 923 applications for 2,924 applications
• Aiming to make family reunification decisions within 12 months (in practice usually longer)
• 528 applications for the Afghan Admissions Programme 
• 234 positive decisions issued as of November 2023.   

Notes to Editors

• The Information Hub can be accessed here.
• Ireland’s AIDA report is available here.  
• FAQ document is available here.
• The production of the videos for the Information Hub was supported by the International Protection Integration Fund.

For further information contact:

Nick Henderson, CEO, [email protected], 0858585559

Wendy Muperi, Communications Officer, [email protected], 0858550434.