Written Answers Nos. 433-456
433. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the fact his Department has spent €4.6 million on court cases brought by citizenship applicants due to long waiting times (details supplied), the means by which his Department will address these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53578/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that a small proportion of naturalisation applicants have taken legal action in relation to the processing time of their application. These cases should be taken in the context of an increasing number of applications. Last year in 2024, Citizenship Division received over 27,376 applications and made more than 31,000 decisions.
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 is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
I expect that going forward, the majority of applicants will continue to receive a decision within one year, however, it is important to note 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, including international ones, can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside of the control of the Immigration Service.
Citizenship Division have also taken a significant number of steps to speed 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 dramatically reducing processing times.
The length of time taken to process an application has dropped from 15 months in 2023, to 8 months in 2024.
In recent years, training has also been provided to Citizenship Division staff to ensure that unsuccessful applicants are fully aware of the reasons for a refusal. This has had a significant impact on the number of judicial reviews received. In 2024, the number of judicial reviews taken in relation to citizenship applications was 13% down on 2023.
435. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps being taken by his Department to process and address the long delays being experienced by practitioners in the discharge of outstanding legal aid payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53596/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra436. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount in payments outstanding to practitioners under the legal aid scheme in the district court and circuit court; the length of time, on average, practitioners are awaiting the payment of claims for professional services provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53597/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra437. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the interest that is accruing on the late payments of legal aid fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53598/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 435 to 437, inclusive, together.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is received from the relevant agencies.
438. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications for Irish citizenship on grounds of "Irish Associations" under Section 16 (1) (a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 approved to date in 2025, and separately in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53599/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously advised to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question 822 of 17 September 2025, it is not possible to provide statistics on the number of applications and decisions based on Section 16 'Irish Association' for 2024. This would require the manual examination of thousands of cases. Such an examination would require a disproportionate amount of time to compile.
Following the recent introduction of the new Section 16 'Irish Association' guidelines, arrangements to separately record such applications have now been put in place and will allow for the provision of better statistical data in the near future.
The guidelines provide clarity to both applicants and decision-makers on what factors may be considered when deciding whether to waive such naturalisation conditions under Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. These new guidelines have been developed in the interests of fair and transparent procedures and comprehensive decision making.
The new guidelines are available on my Department’s Immigration Service website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
My Department has written to over 1,500 people with ongoing Section 16 applications advising them of the recently published guidelines and have afforded them an opportunity to them to provide additional documentation, should they wish. I can advise the Deputy that a significant number of submissions relating to Section 16 'Irish Association' applications have been received. As the new arrangements for recording such applications are embedded, data in relation to application outcomes will become more readily available.
I have asked that the specific information sought by the Deputy be conveyed once it is available.
439. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the counter unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities that An Garda Síochána possess currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53602/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by An Garda Síochána that they have invested in Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems equipment in line with best international policing and security practices.
For security reasons, the specifics of these capabilities cannot be shared.
440. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of knives seized by Gardai in 2024 and for the first nine months of 2025, in tabular form. [53615/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. I am committed to ensuring that communities are safe and tackling knife crime is an important element of that.
Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.
There is, however, a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime. Last year, legislation was introduced which increased the maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife with intent to cause injury, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another person, from five to seven years imprisonment.
In addition, the Government doubled the maximum penalty for assault causing harm to 10 years, in 2023. The offence of assault causing serious harm already has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The below table, provided by Garda authorities outlines the number of knives that have been seized by Gardaí in 2024 and Q1 to Q3 in 2025:
|
Year |
Number Knives Seized |
|
2024 |
2,184 |
|
2025 |
1,71 |
The Deputy may be interested to note, An Garda Síochána recently released a knife related crime analysis report on their website at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/knife-related-crime-2015-to-2024.pdf
441. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda public order unit vans attached to Meath/Westmeath Division as of 1 October 2025; if he will provide same figures as of 1 October 2021, in tabular form. [53616/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 all operational policing matters, such as the allocation and deployment of Garda resources, and determining the manner in which Garda resources are to be distributed and stationed throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 30 September 2025, there were 3,678 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of over 18% since the end of December 2020.
Garda authorities have provided the below table which shows the number of Vans allocated to Public Order duty in the Meath/Westmeath Division as at 30 September 2021 and 30 September 2025.
|
- |
Vans |
|
September 2025 |
1 |
|
September 2021 |
0 |
The purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.
In the interest of transparency An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date. Information in relation to the number of Garda vans and cars is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
The Deputy should select Finance Fleet Management and access the file titled “Fleet Management Report July 2025” for a breakdown of Garda vehicles as at 31 July 2025.
442. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has spoken formally with the President of Interpol since his appointment as Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53626/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that I have not spoken with the President of Interpol since my appointment as Minister.
443. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of probationary Gardaí allocated to each Garda station, in each county, by division, in tabular form. [53651/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra457. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of civilian staff currently employed in An Garda Síochána; and the equivalent figures for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53781/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra458. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of community Gardaí currently allocated to each Garda division; and the equivalent figures for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53782/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 457 and 458 together.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Garda personnel is published by An Garda Síochána and is publicly available at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/
The Deputy should select the month "August 2025" (the latest date for when figures are available) and access the file titled “Allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station 2015 to 31 August 2025” for a breakdown of total Probationer Gardaí numbers by Garda station going back to 2015.
For figures on Community Gardaí the Deputy should access the file titled “Community Garda by Division 2008 to 31 August 2025” for a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers going back to 2008.
For figures on Garda Staff, the Deputy should access the file titled “Garda Staff by Division and Station 31 August 2025” for a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers going back to 2010.
The 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 stationing of Garda personnel throughout the state. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under the Act and, as Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
445. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the Community Safety Partnership will be finalised and implemented for County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53727/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced on Wednesday 2 April 2025, provides for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) within each local authority area. The regulations for these Safety Partnerships came into operation on Monday 30 June.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have recently appointed the members of Donegal Local Community Safety Partnership. It is now a matter for the LCSP to convene its first meeting and elect a chair.
To date, I have appointed the members of eight LCSPs and I expect that the remaining LCSPs will be established by the end of the year.
LCSPs represent a significant step towards a more collaborative, responsive, and locally driven model of public safety and will play a major role in enhancing public safety alongside An Garda Síochána, residents, businesses and state agencies.
446. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the long awaited Community CCTV extension that was awarded for Letterkenny, County Donegal will be approved by the Garda Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53728/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which was signed into law in December 2023, provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. In order to introduce the new regime for CCTV, Part 5 of that Act must be commenced.
There is a new requirement under that Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice for CCTV which will set out the procedures and standards to be followed, as well as the new rules around confidentiality, security, storage, access and retention of data and data subject rights. I am advised by the Garda authorities that work is ongoing with respect to the development of this Code of Practice.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are currently working on a new CCTV Strategy which will outline how CCTV infrastructure utilised by Gardaí can be modernised and integrated with other CCTV infrastructure throughout the State. It is hoped that implementation of a modernised CCTV platform for An Garda Síochána can commence in 2026.
Since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area.
The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems, but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Grants of over €950,000 have been approved to date for 36 Community CCTV schemes.
447. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has any plans to legislate on the issue of the lack of compensation for persons injured in non-negligent accidents on public transport, in which liability cannot be assigned to any party; if he believes that there is a role for the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53765/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe possibility of introducing a no-fault insurance system in Ireland has been examined before by Government. The Second and Final Report of Personal Injuries Commission in 2018, commissioned by the then Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, considered this issue and concluded that it would be difficult to envisage a no-fault system, such as exists in New Zealand, being applied in Ireland, in view of our current legal and constitutional framework. The Commission also noted that introducing a no-fault system model would have fundamental cost implications, in terms of raising revenue in the form of direct and indirect taxation.
Accordingly, I have no immediate plans to amend civil liability legislation in the manner suggested by the Deputy.
The agreement between the State and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland is a matter for the Minister for Transport.
448. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will examine a case (details supplied) in which an applicant is experiencing significant delays in their de facto partner visa application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53766/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the visa application referred to was created on 24 February 2025. Supporting documentation was received in the London office on 27 February 2025 where it awaits examination and processing.
My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service and some applications can take longer than others. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
While I acknowledge the personal difficulties an applicant might be experiencing; it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt.
While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
The current processing times for Dublin visa decisions is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
The date published on the website is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may result in the published processing date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-offices/
I am acutely aware that join family applications are very important for the people impacted. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland, and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: www.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.
449. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of individuals under the age of 18 in the State who are subject to a deportation order, broken down by age cohort 0–4 years, 5–11 years, 12–18 years; if he will provide the number of individuals who have been present in the State for less than one year, for one year, for two years, and for three years or more, for each cohort, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53773/25]
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.
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 persons who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.
The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 3,035 deportation orders have been signed up to 3 October 2025.
Last year, 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). This year 1,546 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 3 October 2025.
So far in 2025, four charter flight operations have removed 130 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 137 removed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on commercial airlines. Additionally, 42 people are confirmed as having left the State independently after a deportation order was issued. Further removals will be conducted as the year progresses.
I can assure the Deputy, that my officials aim to process families in a holistic manner and the consideration of a child’s immigration case is highly dependent on the status of their parents. Each child’s circumstances are examined in detail before a deportation order is made. If deportation orders are made against a family, the parents are informed of this and are required to engage with Gardaí to make arrangements to leave Ireland.
I recognise that an enforced removal is an unfortunate and challenging experience for a child, which is why they are carried out only as a measure of last resort when the family concerned has not removed themselves from the State. I can advise the Deputy that children have only been returned as part of family units. The children and their mothers were not detained in advance of their removal.
The preferred option is to return people voluntarily and my Department operates a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. This programme offers families a reintegration grant to help them resettle in their home countries.
People are strongly encouraged to avail of this option and are informed of this option at each stage of the International Protection process.
I can advise the Deputy, that the length of time a child has been residing in Ireland is given careful consideration before a deportation order is made. However, this information is not recorded in a manner which allows for the extraction of the average time a child was present in Ireland before a deportation order was made against them. While a child’s known or reported date of entry is recorded on their individual records, establishing an average time would require a manual examination of each individual’s record. Such an examination would be voluminous in nature, require a significant amount of staff time and resources and could not be warranted.
At any point in time, however, a subset of those in respect of whom deportation orders have been made are resident in IPAS accommodation and I have asked that records be examined to establish if duration of residence can be collated.
The table below details the number of individuals under the age of 18 in the State who are subject to a deportation order, broken down by age cohort, please note that this information is collated by 0–13 years, and 12–17 years.
The table below details number of deportation orders made against children under the age of 18 in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 to 03 October 2025
|
- |
|
Age Group |
Total |
|
Year |
0-13 |
14-17 |
|
|
2022 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
2023 |
22 |
5 |
27 |
|
2024 |
158 |
30 |
188 |
|
2025 |
232 |
68 |
300 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
As there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately provided the number of children who are currently in Ireland subject to deportation orders. While over 20 children subject to deportation orders are confirmed to have left the State during this period, it should be noted that many will have left the State as part of their family group without being escorted.
450. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to his Department’s statement that it costs an average of €122,000 per person to process an international protection application, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of that figure; the average cost of processing an application up to the point of a first-instance decision, excluding subsequent appeals and accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53774/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe indicative cost for processing a standard procedure international protection application and supporting an applicant through this process is approximately €122,000 per person.
This figure is based on 2024 applicant data, when the average processing time was 29 months to reach a second-instance decision. This comprises 18 months to first-instance decision for those in the standard procedure, with a median processing time for all cases in appeals of 11 months.
The €122,000 figure reflects the combined costs borne by the key stakeholders, including IPAS, Department of Social Protection, HSE, Department of Education, Tusla, An Garda Síochána (GNIB), Department of Justice Home and Affairs.
The estimate covers, but is not limited to, expenses such as: average costs of accommodation (including food), social protection, health care, education, international protection process cost, and international protection appeals tribunal costs.
The analysis undertaken does not allow for a detailed breakdown of costs per stage of the process.
451. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average length of time to process an international protection appeal by IPAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53775/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of appeal decisions issued by IPAT to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53776/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra453. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount of appeal decisions issued by IPAT to date in 2025, the number of applicants that were granted refugee status and the number granted subsidiary protection, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53777/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 to 453, inclusive, together.
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024, compared to over 1,700 in 2023. There has been 10,782 International Protection Appeals accepted to date in 2025 (as of 28 September).
The median processing time for all appeals determined by IPAT in 2024 was 10 months. The median processing time in 2025 for International Protection Appeals to the end of September is 12.8 months.
The table below shows the decisions that were Granted/Set Aside – Refugee Status (RS), Granted/Set Aside - Subsidiary Protection (SP) and those that were Refused/ Affirmed in 2025 to 28 September.
|
- |
Issued 01/01/25 to 28/09/2025 |
|
Granted/Set Aside – Refugee Status (RS) |
884 |
|
Granted/Set Aside - Subsidiary Protection (SP) |
87 |
|
Refused/Affirmed – RS and SP |
2,363 |
|
Grand Total |
3,334 |
The Tribunal has closed a further 1,113 appeals relating Subsequent Application Appeals, Appeals for Return under Dublin III, Withdrawn appeals and Appeals on decision concerning Reception Conditions. This brings the total appeals closed to date in 2025 to 4,448.
I can assure the Deputy it is my intention to continue the investment in the end-to-end international protection process to further speed up decision making in the IPAT.
454. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost of the deportation flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025, which carried 24 people on board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53778/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra455. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a human rights observer was present on board the deportation flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53779/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration of the 24 individuals deported on the flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025, the number that had spent time in prison prior to deportation; the average length of time they were detained; the prisons in which they were detained, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53780/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together.
It 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 persons 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). This year 3,035 deportation orders have been signed up to 3 October 2025.
Last year, 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). This year 1,546 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 3 October 2025.
So far in 2025, four charter flight operations have removed 130 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 137 removed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on commercial airlines. Additionally, 42 people are confirmed as having left the State independently after a deportation order was issued. Further removals will be conducted as the year progresses.
The charter flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025 involved the removal of 24 adult males. I can confirm the returnees on this flight were accompanied by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a Human Rights Observer. While there is no legal obligation to have a Human Rights Observer on board a charter flight, it is considered to be good practice, and a practice that my Department implemented.
Charter flight services are provided by Air Partner Ltd under a contract entered into in November 2024. This contract was signed following a competitive and open procurement process. The costs for the provision of the aircraft for the first three 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 the first three charter flight operations for services such as ground handling services, on-board paramedics and a flight manager have been €46,352 so far in 2025.
The cost for provision of the aircraft for the fourth charter operation is approximately €473,000 for a return flight to Pakistan. The total costs for this operation are not yet available as the invoicing process has not yet been completed.
I can advise the Deputy up to 3 October 2025 of this year, there have been 267 enforced deportations (i.e. requiring escort), the majority of these cases have involved periods of detention prior to Departure. Any children removed have been returned as part of family units and have not been detained.
The enforcement of deportation orders, and the detention of people prior to their removal, is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Prior to any removal, members of GNIB conduct a risk assessment for the safety of those travelling. A person who is the subject of a deportation order may be detained under Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1999 for up to 56 days for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State. An application to extend this period of detention must be made to the District Court.
The prescribed places of detention are contained in the Immigration Act 1999 (Deportation) Regulations 2005 and are: Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, Cork Prison, Limerick Prison, Midlands Prison, Mountjoy Prison, and Wheatfield Prison, as well as all Garda Síochána stations. However, not all of these locations are used for this purpose. All of those removed on 23 September were detained for less than 56 days prior to their deportation.
