Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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673. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people who are in the international protection application process who were directly contacted by email in relation to voluntary return policy announcement made on 29 September 2025; and the number who are from the Occupied Palestinian Territories and who received such communication. [54556/25]

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 1,244 people have left up to 10 October 2025, which is an increase of 105% 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. My Department’s programme provides assistance to people who wish to leave and are not deemed to be in a vulnerable situation.

Part of the voluntary return process is the offer of reintegration assistance – this is a grant that helps people get back on their feet when they return home.

This grant was set at €1,200 per person and €2,000 per family unit.

Last month, I announced that for a limited time, people who were in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025, will be offered an increased allowance if they leave at an earlier stage in the process. This aims to reduce pressure on the system from the high number of applications received in recent years.

This means that if a person decides to opt for voluntary return either before a first instance decision is made, or without submitting an appeal, their assistance will be increased to €2,500 per person to a maximum of €10,000 per family unit.

If a person is in the appeals process, it is €1,500 per person and €6,000 per family unit.

If a person has received a final decision on their application the amount remains at the previous rate of €1200 or a slightly higher amount for a family of €3,000.

The increased assistance level will be offered to everyone in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025 and people are not being excluded on grounds of nationality. My officials are distributing this information by email, on our website and with leaflets. Email communications are issued to people in the International Protection system but these communications are addressed to adults and not to children.

It is important to note that people can return to a country where they have legal residency, and this is not limited to their country of nationality. There are safeguards in place for vulnerable people and requests for return can be refused if it would be unsafe for the person to return. My Department assesses each application on their eligibility for the programme.

At the end of September 2025, there were almost 34,000 applications pending at different stages of the international protection process

As of 01 October 2025, there were 481 applications from Palestinian nationals pending at different stages of the international protection process. Statistics are not maintained on the place of residence of applicants at the time of application.