Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders effected to date in 2024, including the number of people who have voluntarily departed, as well as enforced deportations and assisted deportations. [38188/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the deputy that 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 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.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carries out inquiries to confirm that people have removed themselves from the State and works closely with my Department to enforce deportations where this is not the case.

In addition to the enforced deportations and those that are otherwise confirmed to have left, we know that a much larger number of people will have left the State without being escorted; however, as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately quantify this number.

Enforced deportation operations are complex and costly. They often involve investigations, detection, detentions in custody, legal challenges, flights costs and confirmation with the return country that the person is their citizen.

Alternatives to forced removals, such as through the State’s voluntary return process, are therefore preferable.

The number of deportation orders signed up to 20 September 2024 (1508) has increased by 120% for the same period in 2023 (685 up to 22 September 2023).

621 people have departed from the State under various mechanisms up to 20 September 2024 (i.e. forced return, voluntary return etc.). The overall number of returns has increased by 190% for the same period in 2023 (214 up to 22 September 2023).

The number of enforced deportations has increased by 163% for the same period in 2023 (79 in 2024 and 30 up to 22 September 2023).

The number of voluntary returns has increased by 244% for the same period in 2023 (506 in 2024 and 147 up to 22 September 2023).

The Table below illustrates the total number of repatriations of persons in 2024 up to 20 September 2024.

*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

1. Information has come to hand or by inquiry to the effect that the individual has left the state following receipt of a DO.

2. Person escorted from the state by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

3. EU Citizen removed from the State under the Free Movement Regulations (generally criminals).

4. Transfer to another EU State to have their application for International Protection examined.

5. Persons who availed of the voluntary return programme without getting a deportation order.