Almost three times more asylum appeal cases were determined last year than the year before, according to figures from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The statistics show that the number of asylum cases determined at both the initial application stage and the appeal stage increased more than twentyfold between 1998 and 2000.
Provisional figures for last year show that 9,579 cases were determined: 6,493 initial applications and 3,086 appeals. In 1999, 4,897 initial applications were determined and 1,055 appeals. In 1998, 133 initial applications were ruled on and 272 appeals. The figure for 1997 was 513 applications and five appeals, while in 1996, 68 initial applications were determined and there were no appeals. Figures for the number of people granted refugee status last year are not yet available.
The increase in determinations mirrors the rise in asylum claims over the past few years, and also reflects increased staff levels in the asylum area.
The backlog of asylum claims awaiting a decision was 10,127 at the end of last year. The number of asylum appeals outstanding at the end of last month was 2,004.
A total of 10,938 asylumseekers lodged claims for refugee status last year, on the basis that they were fleeing persecution. Nigerians and Romanians constituted more than half of all asylum applicants. Nigerians made 3,404 claims while 2,226 claims were from Romanians. Last month, 840 asylum applications were made.
The Government has increased the numbers of staff in the asylum and immigration area to around 400. There are 220 staff vacancies in the area. A Department spokesman said 700 cases are currently processed per month. When 640 staff allocated to the area are fully trained later this year, staff will be able to work on the backlog, he added.