Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
722. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons classified as tradespeople and/or construction workers that have been deported or voluntarily returned to their home countries in each of the years 2020 to 2025, by occupational sector, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3579/26]
View answerIt is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.
Before a deportation order is made, a full assessment of each person’s individual circumstances is carried out to establish if they should be granted permission to remain in the State. Depending on whether the person’s case falls under the International Protection Act 2015 or the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), this consideration may be carried out by the International Protection Office, and/or my Department's Repatriation Division.
If a person has made submissions in respect of their previous and current occupations, these submissions will be given due consideration as appropriate.
This information, if received, will be detailed on the person’s individual records but is not recorded in a manner which allows for the collation of statistic based on a person’s occupation or occupational prospects.
My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals.
The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024.
In 2024, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). In 2025, 2,111 people had their departure confirmed through these pathways, an increase of 88% compared to 2024.
In 2025, six charter flight operations removed 205 people from the State. Of these, five operations to non-EU destinations removed 182 people who were subject to deportation orders and one operation removed 23 EU citizens on grounds of criminality.
