Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders which have been signed in respect of persons who have been refused International Protection in 2025; the number of persons who have been refused international protection and who left the State independently after being issued a deportation order, as well as those who were escorted from the State by the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2025; the number of persons who were refused International Protection and who departed the State by way of voluntary return without being issued a deportation order in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52310/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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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.

If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed, and my Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. So far this year four charter flight operations have removed 130 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 132 removed on commercial airlines. Further removals will be conducted as the year progresses. So far in 2025, a total of 1,516 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.)

The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 3,035 deportation orders have been signed up to 26 September 2025. Of these 2,169 were made in respect of people who have been refused International Protection.

I can advise the Deputy so far this year 262 people have had deportation orders enforced by the Garda National Immigration Bureau up to 26 September 2025, of these 207 had been refused International Protection.

Additionally, of the 42 people subject to deportation orders who are confirmed to have left the State independently up to 26 September 2025, 33 had been refused International Protection.

As there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately provide the number of people who are currently in Ireland subject to deportation orders. While over 300 of the people subject to deportation orders above have confirmed they have left the State independently, since 2020, it is the case that a significantly larger number of individuals who were subject to deportation orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities.

I am informed that the Garda National Immigration Bureau has reviewed a large sample of cases of persons subject to deportation orders; their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.

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 up to 26 September 2025, 1,188 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return, of these, 907 had been refused International Protection or had withdrawn from the International Protection process.

Please note that all the figures for 2025 are provisional and subject to change. Figures are correct at time of issue, however all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.