The end-to-end review was one of the recommendations of an expert advisory group report published last October and was overseen by a high-level programme board in the Department of Justice.

Ministers said the review formed part of their committent to implementing the expert advisory group’s recommendations to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to six months.

James Browne, the minister of state for law reform, youth justice and immigration, said: “We are committed to treating those who seek refuge on our shores, or to make a new home for themselves in ours, with dignity and respect.

“Our objective is to have decisions made on international protection applications and permission to remain considerations as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security.

“The review examined the international protection processes in both the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

“Its findings and recommendations for reform will help us to improve efficiencies within those processes and support our goal of reducing overall processing times for international protection, in line with our commitments under the White Paper.”

He added: “I want to thank those applicants, past and present, who participated in the review and who shared their experiences with us.

“I also want to acknowledge the staff in the IPO and the IPAT, and the IPAT tribunal members, who participated wholeheartedly with the review and whose dedication and professionalism is specifically called out in the report.”

The government’s white paper on direct provision commits to introducing a new asylum system by 2024, but adds that the intervening period should provide an opportunity to progress improvements in the overall processing times for international protection.