Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2025
608. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 2 October 2025, if he is now in a position to provide an answer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69342/25]
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 people who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.
In 2024, 934 people left Ireland by way of voluntary return. This year 1,496 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return up to 05 December 2025, which is an increase of 78% compared to the same period in 2024.
A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. 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 4,454 deportation orders have been signed up to 05 December 2025.
So far in 2025, six charter flight operations have 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.
Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so 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 by the Minister for Justice – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future.
A person who is the subject of a deportation order may be detained for up to 56 days for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State.
The prescribed places of detention for this purpose 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.
I can advise the Deputy that of the 344 individuals whose deportation orders have been enforced by GNIB so far in 2025, 267 were detained prior to deportation. Of this group, 28 had criminal convictions.
I can further advise that of the 267 people who were detained for the purposes of deportation this year up to 28 November, 206 were detained in Cloverhill Prison, 24 in Mountjoy Female Prison, 16 in Cork prison, 10 in Limerick prison, seven in Castlerea Prison, three in Midlands prison and one in Dublin Airport Garda Station.
I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the number of people arrested in each year from 2020 - 2025 on foot of a deportation order is as follows:
|
Year |
Number of people arrested on foot of a Deportation Order |
|
2020 |
72 |
|
2021 |
<10 |
|
2022 |
31 |
|
2023 |
69 |
|
2024 |
159 |
|
2025 |
318* |
* (1) Year to date up to 24th October 2025 and (2) not all persons who are arrested on foot of a Deportation Order may be immediately removed due to legal or other logistical issues.
** 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 persons who whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest were deported. This moratorium was lifted in July 2022.
