Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2016
84. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who agreed to voluntary repatriation under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date in tabular form; if they were asylum-related or non-asylum related; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21414/16]
View answerThe Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), offers voluntary assisted return and reintegration programmes for asylum seekers, failed asylum seekers and other illegally present migrants.
Asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers who have not had a Deportation Order made against them are returned under the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP). Other illegally present migrants are returned under the Irregular Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (IVARRP), which is co-funded by the EU on a 50/50 basis.
Under these programmes, the flights home for such persons are paid and where required, the IOM will assist in securing travel documents and give assistance at the airport at departure and arrival. Persons availing of these programmes can apply for reintegration assistance to allow them to start up a business or enter further education or training when they are back in their country of origin. This takes the form of an 'in-kind' rather than a cash payment.
In addition to the two IOM programmes referred to above, my Department also assists people who are illegally present in the State and wish to return home voluntarily by covering the cost of the flight, if necessary, and assisting in securing travel documents.
The statistical information requested by the Deputy is set-out in the following table.
Voluntary Returns 2013 to date (11/07/2016) broken down by failed Asylum Seekers and illegals
|
- |
- |
Year |
Year |
Year |
Year |
- |
|
- |
- |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Total |
|
Type |
Asylum |
89 |
59 |
30 |
28 |
206 |
|
- |
Illegal |
337 |
183 |
102 |
49 |
671 |
|
Total |
- |
426 |
242 |
132 |
77 |
877 |
