Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1583. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders issued, executed, and left unenforced in each of the years since 2020; and whether the suspension of deportations during and after the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to increased asylum applications. [45561/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1671. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders issued in the past three years; the number enforced; and the obstacles preventing full enforcement of deportation orders. [46531/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 and 1671 together.

It is a central priority for me 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.

Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. 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. A person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued and I have increased resources into this programme to enable persons who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.

In 2024, 934 people left Ireland by way of voluntary return. This year 1,121 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return up to 05 September 2025, which is an increase of 158% compared to the same period in 2024.

The COVID-19 Pandemic disrupted return operations across Europe and there was a moratorium on deportations in Ireland during the latter part of 2020, all of 2021 and for the first 8 months of 2022. During the moratorium only people whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest were deported. Since the lifting of the moratorium, removal operations have resumed and my Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals.

The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 2,846 deportation orders have been signed up to 5 September 2025. If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed. So far this year three charter flight operations have removed 106 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 124 removed on commercial airlines. Further charter operations and removals on commercial aircraft will be conducted as the year progresses.

So far in 2025, a total of 1,410 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.).

The tables below detail information in relation to deportation in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 up to 5 September 2025.

Table 1. Deportation orders signed from 2020 to 2025

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

Table 2. Deportation Enforcement 2020 to 2025

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