Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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454. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of the deportation flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025, which carried 24 people on board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53778/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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455. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a human rights observer was present on board the deportation flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53779/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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456. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality of the 24 individuals deported on the flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025, the number that had spent time in prison prior to deportation; the average length of time they were detained; the prisons in which they were detained, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53780/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, 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.

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.

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 3 October 2025.

Last year, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). This year 1,546 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 3 October 2025.

So far in 2025, four charter flight operations have removed 130 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 137 removed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on commercial airlines. Additionally, 42 people are confirmed as having left the State independently after a deportation order was issued. Further removals will be conducted as the year progresses.

The charter flight to Pakistan on 23 September 2025 involved the removal of 24 adult males. I can confirm the returnees on this flight were accompanied by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a Human Rights Observer. While there is no legal obligation to have a Human Rights Observer on board a charter flight, it is considered to be good practice, and a practice that my Department implemented.

Charter flight services are provided by Air Partner Ltd under a contract entered into in November 2024. This contract was signed following a competitive and open procurement process. The costs for the provision of the aircraft for the first three operations has been as follows:

• €102,476 for a one-way flight to Georgia in February.
• €103,751 for a one-way flight to Georgia in May.
• €324,714 for a return flight to Nigeria in June.

The cost for provision of the aircraft for the fourth charter operation is approximately €473,000 for a return flight to Pakistan. The total costs for this operation are not yet available as the invoicing process has not yet been completed.

I can advise the Deputy up to 3 October 2025 of this year, there have been 267 enforced deportations (i.e. requiring escort), the majority of these cases have involved periods of detention prior to Departure. Any children removed have been returned as part of family units and have not been detained.

The enforcement of deportation orders, and the detention of people prior to their removal, is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Prior to any removal, members of GNIB conduct a risk assessment for the safety of those travelling. A person who is the subject of a deportation order may be detained under Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1999 for up to 56 days for the purpose of ensuring their deportation 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. However, not all of these locations are used for this purpose. All of those removed on 23 September were detained for less than 56 days prior to their deportation.