detainee was 99 days (3.3 months).100 This included the examination at first and second instance, but not the judicial review of the case. If we take into account that return is not possible as long as an asylum claim is pending, then the detention of asylum-seekers entails both a loss of resources and a financial burden additional to the one of processing the claim. In terms of cost, the loss is not insignificant. For instance, mid 2013-2014, 2,323 detainees applied for asylum and at least 1,187 claims received a first-instance decision by the new Asylum Service within 58 days.101 This means that EUR 1,101,536 was invested in detention with the aim of return, a process that could not take place either way while the asylum claim was pending.102 Table 17. Asylum claims submitted by migrants in detention facilities 2008-2013103 Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Asylum Claims 2,868 4,759 5,136 4,595 5,735 2,623 *Data provided by the Greek Police, 1. April 2014 Alternatives to Detention First Reception Centres- Screening Centres The concept of Screening Centres is relatively new. The Centres were introduced together with the First Reception Centres and they were purported to gradually replace the border guard stations and other unsuitable detention facilities Greece was using to receive and screen newcomers.104 Screening Centres are, thus, not detention centres in the strict sense of the term. They aim at carrying out identifications processes and establish the needs and status of a migrant. There are currently two screening centres on the islands of Samos and Chios. Both types of establishments opened their doors in the course of 2013. First Reception Centres aim at providing newcomers with some first aid (food, medical aid, information); new arrivals stay for an average of 12 days and in exceptional circumstances for 25 days105. Their purpose is to identify vulnerable categories, offer first assistance and care, 100 Statistics between June 2013- August 2014, New Asylum Service; see also Report by the Campaign for Access to Asylum, October 2014 available at http://asylum-campaign.blogspot.gr 101 58 days from moment of registration until issuance of first decision, Statistics of new Asylum Service. The figure 1,187 includes only substantial decisions and excludes inadmissible applications and resignations. 102 Ibid. 103 Police Reply to Eliamep, 1 April 2014 104 See Commission Staff Working Document on the Assessment of the implementation of the Greek Action Plan on Asylum and Migration management, 2014, p. 5 105 Police Reply to Eliamep, 28 January 2014 Page 48