Written answers

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Deportation Orders

8:00 pm

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 649: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of occasions since June 2009 on which aircraft have been chartered to facilitate the deportation of persons from this country; the cost involved in such charters; the number of persons deported in this way; the number who were children; the overall costs involved, including Garda man hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1290/12]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Since June 2009, 25 aircraft have been chartered for deportation flights. In 22 of these cases the flights were arranged through the EU FRONTEX network and were operated in conjunction with immigration authorities in other EU Member States. The cost to the State has been €1.97m. The number of people deported by charter since June 2009 is 445 including 119 children - all of whom were accompanied by parents or guardians. The information in relation to the cost of Garda man hours is not readily available and could only be compiled by diverting Gardaí form core policing duties.

The removal of individuals from the State in compliance with the provisions of the law is, by its nature, a difficult process. It is however a necessary feature of the enforcement of immigration related legislation where individuals do not exercise the option available to them to leave the State voluntarily when they are unlawfully in the State or where they may not be in a position to exercise that option. In enforcing the law in this respect, Ireland is no different to other countries who also remove individuals who have no lawful right to remain within their territory.

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