Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Deportation Orders

9:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons issued with a deportation order who had to be subsequently issued with a second deportation order due to re-entry to this State in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7862/08]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A Deportation Order obliges the person concerned to leave the State and thereafter remain out of the State. The Deportation Order continues to be enforceable in the event of that person seeking to re-enter the State illegally, or being found to be illegally present in the State. Therefore it is not necessary to issue a further Deportation Order.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who have been voluntarily deported in each of the past five years; the number of those forcibly deported in each year; the number of deportation orders issued by his Department in each year; the number sought in each year by the Gardaí; the number outstanding at the end of each year; the number of requests which are outstanding for each year concerned; the average cost of each voluntary and forced deportation respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7863/08]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of persons who opted to voluntarily repatriate during the five year period 2003-2007 is provided in Table A below:

Table A — Voluntary returns effected — 2003 to 2007
YearNumber of self-managed voluntary returnsNumber of voluntary returns — International Organisation for Migration assistedTotal
2003361401762
2004218393611
2005125210335
200663175238
2007162255417

The total number of persons who consented to their deportation, were issued with deportation orders and who were subsequently deported during the five year period 2003-2007 are provided in Table B below:

Table B — Deportation Orders signed and Consent Deportation Orders Effected — 2003 to 2007
YearNumber of deportation orders signed (including consent orders)Number of consent deportation orders effected
20032,411105
2004291511
20051,89937
20061,56618
200741817
Total9,209188

The information requested in relation to the number of persons sought each year by the Gardaí is not readily available in my Department. My officials have requested the relevant statistics from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and I can assure the Deputy that the information will be conveyed to him at the earliest possible date.

The average deportation cost provided below refers to the deportation of either illegal immigrants, persons refused refugee status in the State or persons whose applications for asylum have been transferred to another country under the Dublin Convention. The vast majority of the removals involved persons who were refused refugee status in the State.

The average cost of a consent deportation is not readily available in my Department. My officials are compiling the relevant statistics and I can again assure the Deputy that the information sought will be conveyed to him at the earliest possible date.

The average cost of a Deportation is € 3,312 while that of a Voluntary Repatriation under the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP) for non EEA nationals is circa €3,177 (based on 2007 figures).

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of deported persons issued with an EU letter travel document in each of the past five years; the number of such persons who were returned to Ireland; the number who returned as they were refused re-entry to the destination country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7864/08]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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To effect a Deportation Order, and where the person concerned does not hold valid travel documents, it is normal practice to secure the necessary travel documents from the country to which it is intended to return the person concerned. It is only possible to deport a person on an EU travel letter where the country of return is willing to accept the validity of such a document. Kosovo and Albania are currently the only countries where we issue EU travel letters in respect of deportations, and prior to their accession to the EU on 1st January, 2007, Romania and Bulgaria also recognised EU travel letters issued by Ireland. EU travel letters are only valid for the return of the person concerned, travelling on a specific route and on a specific date. There is no record of a country of return refusing to accept the validity of an EU travel letter which was issued in respect of a person being deported.

Although it is not possible to give an indication of the exact number of EU travel letters issued by my Department for the full period requested by the Deputy without diverting staff from other important work, which would not be justified, I can inform the Deputy that approximately 286 such documents were issued in 2006, 4 in 2007 and 1 to date in 2008.

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