The number of appeals awaiting determination in Ireland's International Protection Appeals Tribunal has reached a record 21,203 as of 1 October 2026, according to figures disclosed in response to a parliamentary question tabled by Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy.

Carthy, the party's spokesperson on justice, home affairs and migration, said the backlog reflects dysfunction in the asylum system and that the government must explain how it grew to such levels.

He noted that while the minister has highlighted reductions in processing times for initial international protection applications, appeal waiting times have lengthened considerably.

Delayed appeals mean applicants remain in state-provided accommodation longer, increasing uncertainty for them and costs for taxpayers, Carthy said.

The government has brought in 30 staff from the European Union Agency for Asylum to help address the backlog, but the number of pending appeals has still risen, according to Carthy.

He called for transparency, accountability and a credible plan with a timeline to eliminate the backlog.