Ireland has spent more than €2.5 million to remove just 318 people from the State so far this year alone, new figures revealed.
In total, since 2021, just 617 people have been physically removed from the Irish State, at a cost of €5,118,365.
The data comes from an answer to a Parliamentary Question this week, wherein Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes asked for the number of deportation flights, chartered and otherwise, that have occurred every year from Ireland since 2021, and the associated costs to the State for each of those flights.
€2.5M SPENT TO REMOVE 318 PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY
Colm Brophy, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, supplied figures showing that so far in 2025, a total of €2,525,366 has been spent removing 318 people from the State.
This took place in the period between January 1st and October 17th 2025.
Of these, 140 were deportation orders enforced on commercial flights, while 130 were deportation orders enforced on charter flights.
There were a further 25 individuals removed on commercial flights and 23 individuals removed on chartered flights for “other” reasons.
These include people removed from Ireland due to Dublin III Transfer Orders sending International Protection applicants to other EU countries, EU Removal Orders for EU citizens based on criminal activity, or being found inadmissible under the International Protection Act.
ONE RETURN FLIGHT TO PAKISTAN COST €473K
There have been 5 chartered flights so far this year, one of which alone cost €473,000:
• €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.
• €473,000 for a return flight to Pakistan in September.
• €69,475 for one way flight to Romania
The cost of chartering the aircraft for the fifth deportation flight to Romania is approximately €69,475 for a one-way trip. Full costs for this operation are still pending, as invoicing is incomplete, and the total is expected to be higher.
WHY DOES IT COST SO MUCH?
Minister Brophy explained why the flights cost so much.
“Costs for the provision of supporting charter flight services such as ground handling services, on-board paramedics and a flight manager have been €73,255 so far in 2025,” he said.
“The figure for commercial flights includes both the flight costs (often through hubs and long-distance) for removal operations completed and also the costs of returning accompanying escorts to Ireland when a one-way charter flight is used.”
He added: “…A number of factors impact the costs associated with deportation operations. In particular, the costs for any particular deportation reflect the numbers travelling in each instance, the destination country, and if direct flights are not available the escorts and deportee transit through a hub airport.
“In some cases a person may resist deportation and the Garda National Immigration Bureau risk assessment may give rise to the need for additional escorts. Flight costs also can often be impacted by the need to make arrangements to enable escorts to return on the same flight; where, for example, it is necessary for the personal safety of the escorts.”
“DEPORTATIONS ARE COSTLY AND COMPLEX TO ENFORCE”
Speaking on the figures, Minister Brophy said that the enforcement of deportation orders is “an essential requirement for the system to work effectively” and is necessary for people to have “confidence” in the system.
“Deportations are costly and complex to enforce,” he said.
“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…THEY WILL BE REMOVED”
He added: “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 Minister stated that 2,403 deportation orders were signed in 2024, an increase of 180% on the 857 orders signed in 2023. A total of 3,583 deportation orders have been signed so far this year, up to October 17th 2025.
“So far in 2025, five charter flight operations have removed 153 people from the State,” he said.
“Of these, four operations to non-EU destinations removed 130 people who were subject to deportation orders and one operation removed 23 EU citizens on grounds of criminality. Further removals will be conducted as the year progresses.”
DEPARTMENT CAN RECLAIM SOME FLIGHT COSTS FROM AN EU FUND
Brophy also explained that the Department can reclaim some costs under the EU’s Asylum Migration and Integration Fund.
“Since 2016 to the end of 2023, my Department was able to reclaim some costs of commercial flights under the European Union’s Asylum Migration and Integration Fund,” he said.
“A new fund opened in 2024 and my Department continues to reclaim funding for commercial flight costs under this EU Fund (for deportation costs only) and will begin to claim for charter costs shortly.”
DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, TRAVELLING COST MORE
The Minister said that during the COVID- 19 Pandemic there was a “moratorium on deportations”.
“This impacted the latter part of 2020, 2021 and for the first 8 months of 2022,” he said.
“During the moratorium only people whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest were deported. This moratorium was lifted in July 2022. Due to the pandemic, travelling incurred additional costs.
“When deportation orders and other types of removal orders are enforced using commercial airlines, they are normally returning one individual to their country of nationality.”