Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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1989. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality given that an accommodation centre (details supplied) accommodates male international protection applicants on a transit and deportation order basis, and given his reply to me recently that “while some people currently resident in this facility, or in other IPAS accommodation centres, may be the subject of a deportation order, it is not the case that they are being detained in those locations or those facilities”, to outline how, if they are not being detained, community safety is safeguarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41651/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

The enforcement of deportation orders, and the detention of people prior to their removal, is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau, as is consideration of any public safety matters that might arise in any particular case.

A person who is the subject of a deportation order may be held in detention for up to 56 days for the purpose of ensuring their removal from the State. An application to extend this period of detention must be made to the District Court.

The prescribed places of detention are contained in the Immigration Act 1999 (Deportation) Regulations 2005 and are: Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, Cork Prison, Limerick Prison, Midlands Prison, Mountjoy Prison, and Wheatfield Prison, as well as all Garda Síochána stations. In practice, not all of these locations are in regular use for this purpose.

The purpose of IPAS centres is to provide accommodation to people who have entered Ireland seeking protection. People are not detained at Citywest or at any IPAS centre, such centres are not prescribed places of detention under the Immigration Act 1999 (Deportation) Regulations 2005.

The overwhelming majority of people issued with deportation orders are unsuccessful applicants for international protection or have otherwise not been granted a permission to remain. It is for this reason that they have been directed to leave the State and not arising from a public safety concern.

The Immigration Acts provide several non-custodial measures which can and are used as alternatives to detention by An Garda Síochána as appropriate. These include requirements for the person to report to Gardaí at specified intervals and that the person must reside at a specified place.