Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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260. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of individuals detained in the State pending deportation between 24 September and 3 October 2025; and the prisons in which they were held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54297/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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261. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of individuals detained pending deportation to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54298/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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262. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time individuals have been detained pending deportation to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54299/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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263. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the five longest individual periods of detention pending deportation in 2025; the duration in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54300/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261, 262 and 263 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 enforcement of deportation orders, and the detention of people prior to their removal, is an operational matter for GNIB. 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.

If the person who is the subject of the deportation order is serving a sentence for a criminal offence and is released from prison at the end of their sentence, they can then be detained under Section 5 of the Immigration Act for a further 56 days.

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.

I can advise the Deputy that of the 267 individuals whose deportation orders have been enforced by GNIB so far in 2025, 212 were detained prior to deportation. Of this group, 25 had criminal convictions.

Of the 212 persons detained prior to deportation only one case exceeded 56 days. The average length of detention prior to deportation was 28 days. One person was detained for 77 days, one person was detained for 56 days and three people were detained for 55 days.

I can advise the Deputy that between the period 24 September 2025 and 3 October 2025, 36 people were detained for the purposes of deportation. Of these 27 were detained in Cloverhill Prison, four in the Dóchas (Mountjoy Prison), three in Cork Prison and two in Castlerea Prison.