Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
229. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will publish up-to-date figures on migration inflows, processing times, outcomes and outline the measures being taken to ensure the system remains fair, efficient and sustainable. [50276/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMigration benefits our economy, our public services, our infrastructure and has contributed to making contemporary Ireland a dynamic and successful society. There are a number of legal pathways available to non-EU nationals to enter the State, based on a variety of different reasons, including employment, education or to join a family member, details of which can be found on my Department's Immigration Service website: Home - Immigration Service Delivery (www.irishimmigration.ie/)
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), which is fully independent in its role, tracks population and migration flows. This information can be accessed on the CSO website at the following link (www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-pme/populationandmigrationestimatesapril2025/)
My Departments Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) website provides a live application processing date, broken down by stamp category, for those who have submitted an online immigration permission renewal application. This can be accessed here (www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/)
Processing times and decisions at the Visa Offices in Dublin and overseas can be checked at the following link (www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions)
Additionally, statistics on International Protection are published regularly on gov.ie and the International Protection Offices (IPO) own website, all of which can be found below
International Protection in Numbers (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/international-protection-in-numbers/).
International Protection and Accommodation (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/campaigns/international-protection-and-accommodation/).
It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based, and my Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals.
In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024. Up to 26 June 2026, 2292 deportation orders have been signed.
In 2025, 2,111 people had their departure confirmed under the various mechanisms such as enforced deportation, voluntary return, an increase of 88% compared to 2024. Up to 26 June 2026, 1153 people have had their departure confirmed through these pathways.
In 2025, six charter flight operations have removed 205 people from the State, while four charter operations to date in 2026 have seen the removal of 172 people from the State.
Since September 2023, nationals of Bolivia, Dominica, Honduras, Vanuatu, Botswana, South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Nauru and Trinidad and Tobago have become visa required. More recently, with effect from Monday 15 June 2026, nationals of Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia will also be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland.
The aim is to strike the right balance between maintaining effective immigration controls and ensuring that people can continue to come to Ireland.
The number of International Protection applications had been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately a third.
In 2025, the IPO delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared to approximately 14,100 in 2024, a 44% increase. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) more than doubled the number of appeals closed from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,300 in 2025. This year and is on track to significantly exceed the number of appeals closed in 2025.
Additionally, the International Protection Act 2026, that gives effect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, came into effect on 12 June 2026.
The Pact provides a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU including standardised processing times for decisions: six months for a standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures and two months for processing applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in Europe.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how Government intends to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade.
My Department is currently working collaboratively with a wide range of other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy later this year.
