Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
791. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of deportations carried out in the first four months of 2026 against the number of new international protection applications received in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38959/26]
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.
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.
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. Up to 22 May 2026, 864 people have departed the State through these pathways.
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.
Three charter operations to date in 2026 have seen the removal of 130 people from the State, including 67 EU citizens who were removed on grounds of criminality.
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.
It is the case that a significant number of individuals who were subject to Deportation orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities; however, as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to definitely provide the number of people who have or have not complied with an order. I am, however, 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.
I can advise the Deputy that from 1 January to 30 April 2026, a total of 4,137 applications for international protection were received.
728 people departed from the State under the various mechanisms in the same time period.
There were 179 enforced deportations, which is an increase of 41% for the same period in 2025.
