Nine out of 10 asylum seekers rejected in new fast-track claims scheme

James Cox

A quarter of asylum claims refused under a new fast-track scheme have been issued with deportation orders.

The system, which requires rulings to be made within a 12-week window, has seen nine in 10 claims rejected.

The pilot scheme affects people seeking asylum from "safe" countries or where an earlier request has been made in another European Union country.

Immigration lawyer Cathal Malone said applicants can still appeal their refusals.

Malone told Newstalk: "Your first instance decision is within six weeks of applying. Your appeal decision is within another six [weeks].

"That is incredibly fast... to do things that quickly is obviously raising a huge host of issues. The first, and obviously most important, thing for people is their ability to access proper - or indeed any - legal advice."

The new statistics are drawn from 2,272 claims for international protection.