Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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594. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount spent under the voluntary return scheme in 2024 and to date in 2025, by transport, transit visas and associated costs, and reintegration grants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32035/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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595. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of individuals and families that received reintegration grants in 2024 and to date in 2025; the total value of payments under each category, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32036/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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596. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost per voluntary return in 2024 and to date in 2025, including all associated travel, medical, and reintegration support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32037/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594, 595 and 596 together.

It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. Removing people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

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. It is important to note that a person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued. In 2024, 934 people left Ireland by way of voluntary return. This year 740 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return up to 13 June 2025 which is an increase of 233% compared to the same period in 2024.

A person who is intending to avail of voluntary return can arrange their return independently or they can be assisted with travel costs, financial help and administrative support by the Voluntary Return Unit in my Department or through my Department’s partner, the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Up until 2023 the Voluntary Return Programme was administered solely by IOM on behalf of my Department. In 2024 my Department developed its own voluntary return programme, which operates in tandem and in close cooperation with IOM’s services. My Department’s programme provides assistance to people who wish to leave and are not deemed to be in a vulnerable situation. Generally, the IOM will consider more vulnerable cases; this involves all persons eligible for voluntary return, including persons with no legal permission to be in State as well as those in the International Protection (IP) system or who have received a negative decision in relation to their IP application. The voluntary return service comprises pre-departure counselling, travel arrangements and costs and the payment of a reintegration grant in the form of ‘in kind’ assistance.

IOM previously offered two programme streams, the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP) and the Irregular Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (IVARRP). In 2024, the IVARRP and VARRP were merged under the one Voluntary Returns Programme and which is managed by the Voluntary Returns Unit of my Department with the support of the IOM. Of the 934 people who left Ireland by way of voluntary return in 2024, 316 were supported by IOM.

I can advise the Deputy that two grant agreements have been awarded to IOM in 2023, these agreements were extended under a no-cost extension to 31 July 2024. This information is reported on a programme cycle basis and not by calendar year.

For the period 01 January 2023 to 31 July 2024, the grant agreement to support the IVARRP was €695,278.17 of which €641,188.00 was spent. Of this, €270,293 related to operational costs for voluntary return such as flights, transit costs and reintegration.

For the period 01 January 2023 to 31 July 2024, the grant agreement to support the VARRP was €920,259.21 of which €916,505 was spent. Of this, €359,700 related to operational costs for voluntary returns such as flights, transit costs and reintegration.

The table below details the expenditure for operational costs under the grant agreements with IOM for the period 01 January 2023 to 31 July 2024 for the IVARRP and VARRP.

As I have advised the Deputy, in 2024, the IVARRP and VARRP were merged under the one Voluntary Returns Programme. This programme is managed by the Voluntary Returns Unit of my Department with the support of IOM. In 2024, a grant agreement was signed with IOM for the period 1 August 2024 to 31 January 2026.

The amount awarded under this agreement was €2,783,950.26 of which IOM were paid 40% in 2024 to the value of €1,113,580.10. IOM have reported for the period 01 August 2024 to 31 December 2024, expenditure of €393,718 under this agreement related to operational costs. Expenditure for 2025 is not currently available due to the reporting cycle for these figures.

The table below details the expenditure for operational costs under the grant agreements with IOM for the period 01 August 2024 to 31 December 2024.

In addition to the operational expenditure by IOM for voluntary return, the table below details the amount spent by my Department on international transport costs for voluntary returns in 2024 and 2025 to 31 May 2025. Please note, my Department does not provide assistance for costs such as transit visas.

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

Financial reintegration assistance, which can only be availed of once, is provided when the person has departed the State. In 2020, the reintegration grants provided under the voluntary return scheme were increased from €600 to €1,200 for individuals and from €1,000 to €2,000 for families. The delivery of financial reintegration assistance is administered by the IOM at this time. The IOM provides access to ‘on the ground’ in country services that provide reintegration support to people which my Department would otherwise not have access to. Not all participants in the Voluntary Return programme immediately pursue their reintegration assistance upon leaving the State and some may not pursue it at all; there can also be a time lag between and individual receiving reintegration assistance and the reporting of that expenditure. For that reason, all figures set out in the tables below will be subject to change.

The table below the number of individuals and family groups who received financial reintegration assistance in 2024 and 2025 to 31 May 2025.

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

The table below details the expenditure on reintegration assistance broken down by individuals and family groups in 2024 and 2025 to 31 May 2025. The below figures include the payment of reintegration grants and associated costs of this. Depending on the Country of Return, IOM may charge a Service Fee for the administration and delivery of these services.

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

I can advise the Deputy that each application for a voluntary return is examined on a case-by-case basis considering the person’s individual circumstances and there can be a wide disparity in the costs due to the nature of the assistance provided. Therefore, my Department does not provide an overall average cost per voluntary return as this would not accurately illustrate the cost of returning a person under the programme.

I am advised that, in the vast majority of cases, the costs of removing people by enforced deportation would be significantly higher than by voluntary return. It is in everyone’s best interest that people avail of the option to voluntary return when offered as an alternative to deportation.

I strongly encourage people who do not have permission to be in Ireland to leave voluntarily. People who require assistance or information can contact my Department’s Voluntary Return Unit by email at voluntaryreturns@justice.ie or at the below address.

Voluntary Returns Unit

Arrangement

13-14 Burgh Quay

Dublin 2

D02 XK70.