Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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298. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people who engaged with the voluntary returns unit per annum for 2022 to 2025 inclusive; the number persons that notified the relevant authorities of their intention to leave voluntarily during that period; in those cases, the number of instances of non-issuance of deportation orders were in fact issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21835/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is a central priority for me that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area.

Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). This year 647 people have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 30 April 2025. So far this year, two charter flight operations have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State. Further operations will be conducted as the year progresses.

It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. When a person avails of a ‘Voluntary Return’ they are not issued with a deportation order. The individual can make their own arrangements to leave or can be assisted by my Department or the UN International Organisation for Migration, which my Department funds for these purposes. In both circumstances, returns under this category are directly verified and confirmed by my Department.

Table 1 below sets out the total number of Voluntary Returns in 2023, 2024 and up to and including 30 April 2025.

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

A deportation order is issued after the person is offered but does not avail of voluntary return. Information regarding the number of people who indicate they wish to leave voluntarily but then receive a deportation order as they fail to do so is not collated in the manner sought by the Deputy. A person’s engagement with my Department’s voluntary return unit is recorded on their individual record.

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 number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). Table 2 below sets out the total number deportation orders signed in 2022, 2023, 2024 and up to and including the 30 April 2025.