Written Answers Nos. 715-734
719. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the implementation of 16.7% uplift on personal injury guidelines following the independent report carried out by the Injuries Resolution Board, which was launched by the Minister on 16 October 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3427/26]
View answerOn 17 September 2025, as required by section 7 of the Judicial Council Act 2019, I laid the revised personal injury guidelines before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Prior to laying the documents, I consulted Ministerial colleagues and the Attorney General in relation to the proposed increase in award amounts contained in the Judicial Council’s proposals. While there were concerns that any delay in the adoption of new guidelines could lead to the courts being invited to depart from the guidelines and to seek higher awards reflecting the effect of inflation, to be applied at the discretion of the Court, I was also conscious of concerns raised in relation to potential inflationary pressures.
Therefore, it is my intention not to bring a Resolution before the Houses seeking the approval of the guidelines at this time. In effect, this means that the amended Guidelines cannot come into effect and the existing Guidelines will remain in place. In addition, I have received Government approval to draft a general scheme of a Bill to amend the Judicial Council Act 2019 to make reviews of the Personal Injuries Guidelines more comprehensive and transparent. The General Scheme of the Bill will be referred for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.
I welcome the Review of Compensation for Minor Soft-tissue Injuries in Ireland and the United Kingdom, an independent report prepared by the Injuries Resolution Board, in collaboration with Deloitte, at the request of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
I note that the proposed changes to the Judicial Council Act will strengthen the provisions regarding research and consultation with the Injuries Resolution Board in the development of revised personal injuries guidelines.
720. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he expects the next class of Garda recruits to be attested; if he expects any further groups to be attested in 2026; the total number of new Gardaí expected to join the Force in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3446/26]
View answerGetting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime is my first priority as Minister. The Programme for Government commits to recruiting 5,000 Gardaí over five years. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with Budget 2026 providing unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
The provision of training and Garda recruitment is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner but I can inform the Deputy that the next group of Garda trainees are due to complete their training at the Garda College shortly and will attest in February 2026, with further attestations being planned during 2026.
At the end of November, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,200, which included 14,462 Gardaí, 3,486 Garda Staff, and 308 Reserves. I will continue to support An Garda Síochána to increase this number further so that we can see more Gardaí assigned all across the country.
Interest in a career as a Garda is high, with over 11,000 applications received over the two competitions in 2025.
Overall, I am informed by Garda authorities that 794 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018.
There will be four intakes to the Garda College in 2026 and the intention is to increase the capacity of each intake to 250, once works are complete at the College.
As the Deputy may be aware a Recruitment and Training Capacity Group was established in 2024 to support the achievement of increased recruitment. The Group has now completed its work and its report has been published on my Department's website. Overall, the Group has concluded that the Government's recruitment plans are achievable but challenging.
721. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the standard processing timeframe for naturalisation applications has increased in recent months; if he is aware of reports of recent prolonged delays in applications from certain non-EU countries such as India and Pakistan; the reason for these delays; whether an increase in staff or resources is needed to ensure consistency in processing such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3569/26]
View answerI understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has submitted an application for naturalisation that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to improve the process for applicants. These include introducing an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are reducing processing times.
It is important to note, however, that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some checks, such as international checks, can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside the control of the Immigration Service.
For that reason, while I expect that going forward, most applicants will receive a decision within one year, this cannot be guaranteed in the case of applications made in any specific year.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
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.
723. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prosecutions per annum under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 since its enactment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3600/26]
View answerAn operational review of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law, was published by my Department in 2024. The review found that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had taken a total of 99 cases in respect of section 2, 3 or 4 of the Act between its commencement (in 2021) and the end of 2023.
This included:
• A total of 23 cases prosecuted on indictment in the Circuit Court
• The DPP consented to summary disposal on guilty plea for eight cases
• The DPP directed summary disposal on 68 cases
• One case was prosecuted on indictment in the Central Criminal Court
The review was carried out by my Department and found positive early indicators in terms of prosecutions taken, the number of reports of intimate image abuse made to a hotline for illegal content, and general awareness of the legislation.
The review is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/dd498-review-of-harassment-harmful-communications-and-related-offences-act-2020
In relation to the specific data sought by the Deputy, prosecutions are a matter for the Office of the DPP, who is fully independent in her functions. As Minister, I have no role in the operations, functions, governance or oversight of the Office of the DPP and, as a result, I am unable to provide information or statistics relating to the Director's work, as requested.
724. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to list the roles within public or semi-State organisations under his Department that are excluded from the single public service pension scheme; the number of people employed in those roles, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3622/26]
View answerI am advised that within my Department and the organisations under its aegis for which my Department provides HR services no role is exempted from the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
With regard to the other agencies under my Department's remit, I am informed that all eligible employees, as per Scheme rules, are included in the Scheme. The Irish Prison Service has advised that a number of people employed on a temporary basis were not members of a pension scheme. All other permanent employees are members of other existing public sector pension schemes.
I am further informed that it has not been possible for An Garda Síochána to provide the information requested in the time provided and I will forward their response directly to the Deputy when it is available.
725. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a visa application (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3654/26]
View answerThe naturalisation application referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
It is important to note, however, that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some checks, such as international checks, can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside of the control of the Immigration Service.
For that reason, while, I expect that going forward, that most applicants will receive a decision within one year, this cannot be guaranteed in the case of applications made in any specific year.
Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to improve up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are reducing processing times.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
726. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to review the feasibility of replacing the current repeated Garda vetting process with a national registration and licensing system (details supplied); whether such a system will improve efficiency, data protection, and safeguarding outcomes while remaining self-financing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3663/26]
View answerThe primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and in particular parents, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.
I am informed by Garda authorities that the current Garda Vetting system is delivered in a standard format to each organisation seeking Garda Vetting and this methodology is in line with good practice internationally.
The Garda Vetting Review Group was established with a primary focus to deliberate and formulate recommendations to strengthen the vetting legislation in an effective manner.
The Review Group was tasked with ensuring that any changes to the vetting process ensure it remains robust, efficient and effective while improving the service to customers. This group included members of the National Vetting Bureau in An Garda Síochána, officials from my Department, Tusla and other relevant stakeholders.
The Group’s primary focus was to examine the means of strengthening the vetting legislation in a workable and effective manner, while seeking to balance this with issues that have arisen regarding the re-vetting period and the transfer of vetting across other similar activities, for example with sports teams.
While the Group has not agreed a formal report, an update on its work was submitted to me and work is being undertaken to implement a number of key recommendations, in consultation with all relevant partners.
It is my aim to ensure the vetting system is fit for purpose, robust and future-proofed to the greatest extent possible, to continue to protect our children and vulnerable adults.
727. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the employment permit appeal by a person (details supplied); the actions he will take to ensure that it is processed in a timely and fair manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3664/26]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that in order to finalise the application cited, the Domestic Residence and Permissions (DRP) division of my Department have requested further information from the person concerned. The DRP division are currently awaiting a reply.
My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
728. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current compulsory retirement ages which apply to members of the judiciary; and the changes which have been made to these retirement ages from 2000 to date in 2026. [3703/26]
View answerThe current compulsory retirement age which applies to all members of the judiciary is 70. The Courts and Courts Officers Act 1995 Act repealed S.12 of the Courts Act 1924 which had previously set the retirement age for High and Supreme Court judges at 72.
Judges of those courts who were appointed prior to 1995 were entitled to continue to serve until reaching the age of 72.
The compulsory retirement age for Judges of the District Court was raised from 65 to 70 in 2019 by Section 4 of the Courts Act 2019. In its 2022 report, the Judicial Planning Working Group considered the question of the compulsory retirement age for the judiciary and made no recommendation for a change to the policy in this area.
729. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 669 of 25 November 2025, if he has received the relevant information in order to have this PQ answered. [3733/26]
View answerI refer to Parliamentary Question No. 669 of 25 November 2025 where you sought: “the number of Gardaí within Kildare-Wicklow Division who have successfully completed the mountain bike course in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form.”
The Garda authorities have provided the below table which provides details of the number of Gardaí who have successfully completed the mountain bike course from the Kildare/Carlow and Wexford/Wicklow Divisions.
|
Division |
No. Trained 2024 |
No. Trained 2025 |
Total |
|
KILDARE/CARLOW |
2 |
15 |
17 |
|
WEXFORD/WICKLOW |
1 |
8 |
9 |
|
Total |
3 |
23 |
26 |
730. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to legislate for the explicit recognition of parental and family based control; the Garda protocols for non-partner abuse cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3755/26]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and ensuring that victims and survivors are fully supported, remain absolute priorities for this Government. These commitments underpin the Third National Strategy on DSGBV and a key element of achieving the Strategy’s aims is through robust legislation.
The offence of coercive control, provided for under section 39 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, recognises and criminalises patterns of psychological and emotional abuse within intimate relationships. A person convicted of this offence is liable to receive a fine, or face imprisonment for up to five years. My Department keeps the operation of this, and all criminal legislation, under constant review to ensure that it is achieving its intended purpose, and draws on developments in research and international practice to do so.
The Programme for Government 2025, "Securing Ireland's Future", includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector. My colleagues the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality are taking this work forward.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Domestic Abuse Intervention Policy outlines the required policing response to, and investigation of, allegations relating to domestic abuse, including those made by a third party. In compliance with that policy, the Garda PULSE system is the organisation’s core IT database for recording all crime incidents. Where any offence relating to domestic abuse has been committed, an appropriate PULSE incident will be created and a motive of domestic abuse will be added. Examples of such incidents are also legislated for by specific provisions in the Domestic Violence Act 2018, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, the Criminal Damage Act 1991, for various offences such as threats to kill, assault, criminal damage and harassment.
An Garda Síochána apply a motive of domestic abuse to incidents of physical, sexual, psychological or economic abuse that occurs within the family or domestic unit. This may occur in non-partner relationships between
• parent(s) and children of full age
• children of full age (siblings)
• adults who are not in a contractual/tenancy relationship, where the perpetrator shares the same residence with the victim.
In cases where a victim cannot be traced, or declines to confirm that a criminal offence took place, but there is reasonable probability a criminal offence took place and no credible evidence to the contrary, the relevant criminal offence will be recorded on the PULSE system. I am further advised that the Garda PAF (Performance Accountability Framework) system ensures governance and oversight of all domestic abuse related incidents including victim/offender management and court outcomes and it provides reports as necessary to the Divisional Officer.
731. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the review being carried out by his Department into a hotel (details supplied) following the outcome in the High Court; if he can confirm that there is full insurance on the property where there is no planning and no contract in place for IPAS; if he has reviewed the insurance in place for the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3817/26]
View answerThe State has a legal obligation to provide reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection.
The accommodation centre at Dundrum House, Co Tipperary, has been providing accommodation under contract to the Department since 2022, for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and people applying for international protection.
A new contract commenced in April 2025 at this property to provide accommodation to people in families seeking international protection in Ireland.
All providers of accommodation must complete a proposal template to the Department as part of the appraisal process. The information required includes details of the accommodation and services offered, details of regulatory matters like planning and building regulations, valid fire certification, insurance, and staffing details.
Once all requisite documentation has been received and validated, a contract may be offered and a start date agreed.
Confirmation of the required planning exemption from the local authority was provided to the Department of Justice as part of agreeing this new contract. Valid insurance details were also reviewed as part of this process.
Tipperary County Council acknowledged within court proceedings over recent months that the granting of a planning exemption to the property in January 2025 had an administrative flaw in the process. The exemption was provided to this Department as part of its appraisal for an accommodation contract. On 17 November 2025 the Court made final orders in this matter.
The accommodation provider at Dundrum House has made a new application to the local authority for confirmation of the planning exemption and this is currently with An Coimisiún Pleanála for review.
The Department is now actively reviewing the implication of these matters in the context of the existing contract, and the people and families who are accommodated at Dundrum House at this time.
732. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardai, by rank attached to Clare-Tipperary Garda scenes of crime unit as of 9 January 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3848/26]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the distribution and assignment of Garda personnel throughout the State.
The table below has been provided to me by the Garda authorities and outlines the number of Gardaí attached to the scenes of crime unit in the Clare/Tipperary Division as of 16 January 2026.
|
Rank |
Members |
|
Garda |
9 |
|
Sergeant |
1 |
733. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under his Department, in tabular form. [3876/26]
View answerContact information for queries from Oireachtas members to the agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department are listed below, in tabular form:
|
Civil Justice Agencies/Bodies |
Contact Information |
|
Courts Service |
Website: www.courts.ie/ Email: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie Phone: n/a |
|
Data Protection Commission |
Website: www.dataprotection.ie/en Email: oireachtasqueries@dataprotection.ie Phone: 01 765 01 00 & 1800 437 737 |
|
Dublin Coroner’s |
Website: www.dublincoronerscourt.ie Email: contactthecoroner.dublin@justice.ie Phone: 01 874 6684 |
|
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland |
Website: www.grai.ie/ Email: Oireachtas@grai.ie Phone: n/a |
|
Insolvency Service of Ireland |
Website: www.gov.ie/en/organisation/32f6d-insolvency-service-of-ireland/ Email: Oireachtasmembers@isi.gov.ie Phone: 01 764 4200 |
|
Judicial Council |
Website: www.judicialcouncil.ie Email: info@judicialcouncil.ie Phone: 01 968 3988 |
|
Legal Aid Board |
Website: www.legalaidboard.ie/en/ Email: oireachtas_enq@legalaidboard.ie Phone: 066 947 1000 & 0818 615 200 |
|
Legal Services Regulatory Authority |
Website: www.lsra.ie/ Email: lsra-oir@lsra.ie Phone: n/a |
|
Property Services Regulatory Authority |
Website: www.psr.ie/ Email: info@psr.ie Phone: 046 903 3800 & 1800 252 712 |
|
International Protection Appeals Tribunal |
Website: www.protectionappeals.ie/ Email: ipatoireachtasmail@protectionappeals.ie Phone: 1800 201 458 |
|
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal |
Website: www.gov.ie/criminalinjuries/ Email: criminalinjuries@justice.ie Phone: 01 479 0290 |
|
Criminal Justice Agencies/Bodies |
Contact Information |
|
An Garda Síochána |
Website: www.garda.ie/en/ Email: justiceliaison@garda.ie Phone: 01 666 0000 |
|
Criminal Assets Bureau |
Website: www.cab.ie Email: N/A Phone: 01 666 3266 |
|
Cuan |
Website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/09288-cuan/ Email: oireachtas@cuanagency.ie Phone: N/A |
|
Forensic Science Ireland |
Website: https://forensicscience.ie/ Email: info@fsi.gov.ie Phone: 01 238 2500 |
|
Fiosrú |
Website: www.fiosru.ie/ Email: oireachtas@fiosru.ie Phone: 01 8716 727 & 0818 600 800 |
|
Policing and Community Safety Authority |
Website: www.pcsaireland.ie/ Email: oireachtas@pcsaireland.ie Phone: 01 858 9090 |
|
Irish Prison Service |
Website: www.irishprisons.ie/ Email: Oireachtas@irishprisons.ie Phone: 043 333 5100 |
|
Office of the Inspector of Prisons |
Website: www.oip.ie/ Email: oireachtas@oip.ie Phone: 01 859 2709 |
|
Office of the Independent Examiner |
Website: independentexaminer.ie/ Email: oireachtas@independentexaminer.ie Phone: N/A |
|
Office of the State Pathologist |
Website www.gov.ie/en/publication/20e64-office-of-the-state-pathologist Email: OSP@statepathology.gov.ie Phone: 01 633 1571 |
|
Parole Board |
Website: www.gov.ie/paroleboard Email: oireachtasqueries@paroleboard.gov.ie Phone: 01 474 8767 & 01 474 8770
|
|
Private Security Authority |
Website: www.psa-gov.ie/ Email: oireachtas@psa-gov.ie Phone: 062 32 600 |
|
Probation Service |
Website: www.probation.ie/ Email: oireachtas@probation.ie Phone: 01 817 3600 |
734. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons deported by the State; the number issued with a deportation order respectively, in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3890/26]
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.
Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. A person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued and I have increased resources into this programme to enable individuals who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.
If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed, and 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.). 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.
The tables below detail the number of deportation orders signed and effected from 2020 to 2025.
Table 1. Deportation orders signed from 2020 to 2025
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Deportation orders signed |
598 |
33 |
549 |
859 |
2,403 |
4,700 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Table 2. Deportation Enforcement 2020 to 2025
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Enforced Deportations |
42 |
5 |
24 |
51 |
134 |
185 |
|
Removed by Charter |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
182 |
|
Otherwise Confirmed Deportation (1) |
97 |
33 |
93 |
28 |
28 |
67 |
|
Total Deportations |
139 |
38 |
117 |
79 |
162 |
434 |
|
Other Removals (2) |
40 |
46 |
39 |
24 |
26 |
61 |
|
Number of Voluntary Returns |
201 |
132 |
91 |
215 |
934 |
1,616 |
|
Total Removed |
380 |
216 |
247 |
318 |
1,122 |
2,111 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
** During the COVID- 19 Pandemic there was a moratorium on deportations. This was effective during the latter part of 2020, 2021 and for the first 8 months of 2022. During the moratorium only people who whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest were deported. This moratorium was lifted in July 2022.
1. Otherwise confirmed deportations is where it has been confirmed a person has left the state following receipt of a deportation order without being escorted.
2. Other removals include Dublin III Transfer Orders of International Protection applicants to another EU State and EU Removal Orders for the return of EU Citizens under the Free Movement Regulations (these orders are made on grounds of criminality) and people who are deemed inadmissible under the International Protection Act.
As Ireland does not operate routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to confirm in all instances that a person has departed the State. A person is only recorded as being deported when their deportation has been enforced by An Garda Síochána or when officials have been provided with evidence that they have left Ireland.
While over 300 of the people subject to deportation orders above have confirmed they have left the State independently since 2020, it is the case that a significantly larger number of individuals who were subject to Deportation Orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities.
I am informed that the Garda National Immigration Bureau has reviewed a large sample of cases of people subject to deportation orders; their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.
