Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2026
188. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of people issued with a deportation order and the number of persons deported by the State, respectively, in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44578/26]
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. 2,108 deportation orders have been signed up to 05 June 2026.
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 05 June 2026, 977 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.
The tables below detail the number of deportation orders signed, as well as the number enforced, from 2020 to 05 June 2026.
Table 1. Deportation orders signed from 2020 to 05 June 2026
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 (up to 05 June) |
|
Deportation orders signed |
598 |
33 |
549 |
859 |
2,403 |
4,700 |
2,108 |
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
Table 2. Deportation Enforcement 2020 to 05 June 2026
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 (up to 05 June) |
|
Enforced Deportations |
42 |
5 |
24 |
51 |
134 |
185 |
123 |
|
Removed by Charter |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
182 |
62 |
|
Otherwise Confirmed Deportation (1) |
97 |
33 |
93 |
28 |
28 |
67 |
30 |
|
Total Deportations |
139 |
38 |
117 |
79 |
162 |
434 |
215 |
|
Other Removals (2) |
40 |
46 |
39 |
24 |
26 |
61 |
92 |
|
Number of Voluntary Returns |
201 |
132 |
91 |
215 |
934 |
1,616 |
670 |
|
Total Removed |
380 |
216 |
247 |
318 |
1,122 |
2,111 |
977 |
*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.
*** A deportation order effected in any year may relate to an order signed in a previous year.
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.
The enforcement of deportation orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and my Department works closely with the GNIB to progress arrangements for the removal of people subject to deportation orders. If a person issued with a deportation order does not leave the State independently then they are required to present to the GNIB in accordance with the conditions of their deportation order.
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 GNIB 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.
