Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders issued in 2024 and in 2025 to date; the number of those orders that were complied with voluntarily; the number that were enforced by the authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24537/25]

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 legislation in this area.

A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State, and is issued after the person is offered, but does not avail of voluntary return. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State within the timeframe issued with the deportation order, 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.

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.

The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 1,608 deportation orders have been signed up to 09 May 2025.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 699 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 09 May 2025.

In 2025, two charter flight operations have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 43 removed on commercial airlines. Further charter operations and removals on commercial aircraft will be conducted as the year progresses. A further 19 people have verified to my Department that they have left the State following a deportation order being issued to them.

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.

The table below shows a breakdown of the number of deportation orders issued, otherwise confirmed deportations, and the number of enforced deportations for 2024, and up to 09 May 2025.

*Otherwise confirmed deportations is where it has been confirmed the individual has left the State following receipt of a deportation order without being escorted.

** An enforced deportation is where a person is escorted from the State by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

The table below shows the numbers of voluntary returns for 2024, and up to 09 May 2025.