Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for the question. It is a central priority for me, as Minister for State, that Ireland’s immigration system is firm, fair and effective. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through both voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and ensure confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

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 avail of voluntary return only before a deportation order is issued. A person who intends to avail of voluntary return can arrange their return independently or be assisted with travel costs, financial aid and administrative support by the voluntary return unit in my Department, or through my Department’s partner, the UN’s International Organization for Migration. The option of voluntary return is not offered to those convicted of serious criminality.

If a person receives a final negative decision on their international protection application, they are informed of the option of voluntary return and have five days to indicate whether they wish to avail of it. If a person decides not to avail of a voluntary return within this period, a deportation order is made against them.

People who make their own arrangements are given 30 days to leave. They are required to provide officials with documentary evidence that they have left within three days of their arrival in their home country. This can include evidence of flight tickets, boarding passes, the bio-data page of their passports and the re-entry stamp in their passport with the passport number clearly shown.

People who require assistance to leave Ireland will have the necessary arrangements made by the voluntary returns unit. This may include obtaining travel documents, flight bookings and ground transport. People who receive assistance must provide evidence of their return.

Further information and evidence will be requested if the supporting documentation submitted is not sufficient to confirm the person has left the State. People who do not submit the required documentation within the timeframe are advised that their cases will result in the issuing of a deportation order. In many instances, those availing of voluntary return will be met by officials from the Border management unit of my Department.

In 2024, 934 people left Ireland by way of voluntary return. This year up to 27 June, 808 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return, which is an increase of 223% by comparison with the number in the same period in 2024. Six hundred and fifteen of these were refused international protection status. Since 2020, over 2,300 people have left Ireland under the programme.

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