An operational plan to support the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) has been agreed with the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration confirmed.

Up to 30 EUAA personnel will be deployed to support the tribunal’s work by preparing appeal files, conducting research on country-of-origin information and international protection jurisprudence, and providing interpretation in certain languages.

Ireland has seen a sharp increase in applications for international protection from 2,649 in 2021 to 18,561 in 2024.

At the end of September 2025, there were around 15,929 pending appeals before IPAT. As of 5 October 2025, some 10,836 international protection appeals have been accepted.

Justice, home affairs and migration minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “I have been increasing resources in the end-to-end international process over the course of this year.

“The increased resources for the International Protection Office have led to a major increase in decisions being made and a consequential increase in cases at appeal stage.

“This agreement with the EUAA for further supports is a welcome addition and will help to speed up the decision timeframes in the Tribunal ultimately resulting in reduced timeframes for appeals.”

Colm Brophy, minister of state for migration, said the additional resources “will be of great benefit in reducing the overall caseload and leaving Ireland in a stronger position ahead of the implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact next year”.

IPAT chairperson Hilkka Becker said: “The experts deployed by the EUAA to support the tribunal are most welcome and we look forward to gaining further efficiencies through the supports provided.”

Nina Gregori, the EUAA’s executive director, said: “Our support to the Irish appeals system, while national authorities focus on implementing the reforms the Migration and Asylum Pact requires, reflect important partnerships between the EUAA and its member states.”

The operational plan will be valid until 31 December 2026.