Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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410. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the proposed payments to asylum seekers to leave the State, the protections in place to prevent re-entry by those who have received payment to leave the State; the protections in place to avoid this payment being used as a draw to the State, encouraging more asylum seekers to travel here to receive this payment; if such persons are found not to be genuine asylum seekers, the reason the State will not just deport them without having to pay them money to leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53318/25]

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. Returning 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 1,212 people have left up to 3 October 2025, which is an increase of 106% 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 aid and administrative support by my Department or through my Department’s partner, the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The option of voluntary return is not offered to those convicted of serious criminality.

The voluntary return service comprises of pre-departure counselling, organising travel arrangements and the payment of a reintegration grant.

Part of the voluntary return process is reintegration assistance. The current level of reintegration assistance offered is up to €1,200 per person and €2,000 per family unit. Last week, I announced that for a limited time, people who were in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025, will be offered increased reintegration assistance if they choose to avail of voluntary return at an earlier stage in the process. Anyone who enters the country and applies for International Protection after this date, will not be eligible for the enhanced reintegration supports.

This means if a person decides to opt for voluntary return up to receiving a first instance decision or before appealing a negative first instance decision their assistance will be increased to €2,500 per person to a maximum of €10,000 per family unit. If they are in the appeals process and decide to voluntary return up to an appeal decision issuing their assistance will increase, but to the lower amount of €1,500 per person and to a maximum of €6,000 per family unit. If they receive a final decision on their application, assistance will only increase for families to a maximum of €3,000 per family unit.

Increasing reintegration assistance for those at an earlier stage in the process is aimed at reducing the costs to the State and pressure on the system from the high numbers of applications received in 2023 and 2024.

My officials have reviewed a wide range of arrangements across the EU and the higher levels of support are considered to be generally in line with EU norms in this area. I will be carefully monitoring this incentive to ensure it is working effectively and as intended which is to reduce costs to the State and alleviate pressure on the migration system. The higher level of grants will only be available to those in the process before 28 September 2025. It will not be available to those who apply after this date.

There are strict safeguards in place for reintegration assistance it can only be availed of once and only provided when the person’s departure from the State is confirmed. The reintegration allowance is administered only in the country of return and my Department can stop the payment if it believes the allowance is at risk of being misused.

People leaving under the voluntary programme are required to provide my officials with documentary evidence that they have left within three days of their arrival in their home country. This can include evidence of flight tickets, boarding passes, the bio-data page of their passports and the re-entry stamp in their passport with the passport number clearly shown.

In many instances, those availing of voluntary return will also be met by officials from my Department or by IOM, to ensure that their return journey is facilitated through Dublin Airport and that their departure is confirmed.

Further information and evidence will be requested if the supporting documentation submitted is not sufficient to confirm that the person has left the State. People who do not submit the required documentation within the timeframes are advised that their cases will be reverted for further processing which may result in a deportation order issuing if the person is not confirmed to have left the State.

I can assure the Deputy, in the vast majority of cases, the costs of removing people by enforced deportation would be significantly higher than by voluntary return. When people leave under the voluntary return programme they are cooperating and do not need to be detained prior to departure, or escorted by members of An Garda Síochána on the flight. It is in everyone’s best interest that people avail of the option to voluntary return when offered as an alternative to deportation.