Pa Daly
Question:1014. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice how many of those residing in direct provision currently have deportation orders issued against them. [56550/23]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (1014)
Written answers
My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.
The deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. A person subject to a Deportation Order has no legal basis to remain in the State.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out of such deportations. However, the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take account of individuals who have left the State without informing my Department. It is the case that many individuals who are subject to Deportation Orders leave the State without notifying the relevant authorities and this particular category of individual is difficult to quantify. However, the Garda National Immigration Bureau has reviewed a large sample of the cases from last year who were subject to deportation orders. Their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.
A total of 857 deportation orders were made in 2023.
As my Department is not responsible for the management of persons residing in international protection accommodation, the number of individuals who were issued deportation orders but remain in such accommodation is not currently formally collated by my Department. There is, however, very close engagement between my Department, the International Protection Accommodation Service of DCEDIY and An Garda Síochána to support the effecting of removals, and in the context of that work I am informed that the current figure is understood to be fewer than 200. This includes persons who are pursuing legal challenges to their removal or some further review of their status is underway, as well as persons whose removal is logistically complex.