Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 June 2025
113. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of deportation orders enforced on commercial airlines; the number of deportation orders enforced by GNIB on charter flights, other removals enforced on commercial flights, in each of the past five years; the costs incurred and destination in respect of each flight, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32884/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so, within the timeframe issued with the deportation order, is committing a criminal offence and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future.
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. It is important to note that a person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued.
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). This year 2,113 deportation orders have been signed up to 13 June 2025.
Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). This year, 939 people have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 13 June 2025.
The below table sets out the number of removals enforced in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and year to date in 2025 (up to 13 June). It should be noted that during 2021, and until August 2022, only persons with serious criminal convictions were removed from the State. During this period, travelling incurred additional costs due to the pandemic.
Table 1. Deportations and Removals enforced in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 2024 and 2025 (up to 13/06/2025).
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025* |
|
Deportation orders enforced on commercial airlines |
42 |
5 |
24 |
51 |
134 |
58 |
|
Deportation orders enforced on charter flights |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
106 |
|
Other removals enforced on commercial flights* |
48 |
47 |
40 |
24 |
26 |
10 |
*Other enforced removals include Dublin III Transfer Orders of International Protection applicants to other EU State and EU Removal Orders for the return of EU Citizen under the Free Movement Regulations (these orders are made on grounds of criminality) and persons who are deemed inadmissible under the International Protection Act.
I can advise the Deputy that full information regarding destinations cannot be provided. It is the policy of my Department not to release numbers where there are less than 5 in respect of any nationality, as there is a possibility that a person may be identifiable by releasing such information.
Table 2 below shows the receiving countries for deportations (commercial and charter flights) in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 2024 and 2025 (up to 13/06/2025).
|
Top 5 Countries of destination (greater than 5 removals) |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Pakistan |
|
Brazil |
Georgia |
Georgia |
Georgia |
|
2 |
Brazil |
|
Georgia |
Brazil |
South Africa |
Nigeria |
|
3 |
|
|
|
South Africa |
Albania |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
Brazil |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
Nigeria |
|
Table 3 below shows the receiving countries for EU Removals in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Again, this table shows only the destinations where more than 5 EU removal orders have been enforced.
Table 3. EU Removals destinations in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 2024 and 2025 (up to 13/06/2025).
|
Top 5 Countries of destination (greater than 5 removals) |
2020 |
2021* |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Romania |
Lithuania |
Romania |
Lithuania |
Romania |
|
|
2 |
Lithuania |
Poland |
Lithuania |
Poland |
|
|
|
3 |
Poland |
Romania |
Poland |
Romania |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 4 below shows the receiving countries Dublin III transfers in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. I can advise the Deputy, that when a Dublin III transfer order is enforced this is normally returning one individual to the country responsible for processing their International Protection Application.
Table 4 below shows the number of Dublin III transfers in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to 13/06/25.
|
Date |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Destination |
EU Member States and UK (prior to Brexit) |
EU Member State |
EU Member State |
EU Member State |
EU Member State |
EU Member State |
|
Number of Returnees |
15 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
So far in 2025, three charter flight operations have removed 106 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 58 removed on commercial airlines. Further charter operations and removals on commercial aircraft will be conducted as the year progresses.
The costs for the provision of the aircraft for these operations has been as follows:
• €102,476 for a one-way flight to Georgia in February.
• €103,751 for a one-way flight to Georgia in May.
• €324,714 for a return flight to Nigeria in June.
Costs for the provision of supporting charter flight services such as ground handling services, on-board paramedics and a flight manager have been €46,352 so far in 2025.
The table below shows the cost of both charter and commercial flights from 2020 to 2025. The figure for commercial flights includes both the flight costs (often through hubs and long-distance) for removal operations completed and also the costs of returning accompanying escorts to Ireland when a one-way charter flight is used.
Table 5. Costs for Charter and Commercial flights in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 2024 and 2025 (up to 13/06/2025).
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Charter Flight costs |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
€530,941 |
|
Commercial Flight costs |
€1,628,266 |
€428,131 |
€467,289 |
€494,829 |
€1,202,750 |
€527,003* |
*includes the return of escorts for one way charter operations.
From 2016 up to the end of 2023, my Department was able to reclaim some costs of commercial flights under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund. A new fund opened in 2024 and my Department continues to reclaim funding for commercial flight costs under this EU Fund (for deportation costs only).
A number of factors impact the costs associated with deportation operations. In particular, the costs for any particular deportation reflect the numbers travelling in each instance. In some cases a person may resist deportation and the Garda National Immigration Bureau risk assessment may give rise to the need for additional escorts. Flight costs also can often be impacted by the need to make arrangements to enable escorts to return on the same flight; where, for example, it is necessary for the personal safety of the escorts.
Please note that all the figures for 2025 are provisional and subject to change. Figures are correct at time of issue, however all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
