Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 March 2025
1132. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice in relation to a charter flight that departed to Georgia on 27 February 2025 to provide information (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11534/25]
View answerOn 27 February 2025, a chartered flight to Georgia resulted in the removal of 32 people from the State who were subject to deportation orders. The average amount of time spent in Ireland by the deportees on this flight was approximately 2.25 years. This is the first operation conducted under a new contract signed last November by the State for the provision of a charter service. Such flights have been used periodically over the last 20 years – the last such flight took place in 2019. New procurement was put in place after Covid. These flights are used by many states for deportation purposes. They allow states the possibility to remove multiple individuals to either a single or multiple destinations; they are a necessary and regular component of an effective removals process.The cost of hiring the aircraft on this occasion was €102,476 for a one-way flight. Additional necessary costs arose, for example, in the provision of ground handling services, on-board paramedics, catering and a human rights observer.
As this was an enforced deportation operation, Garda escorts for the relevant passengers were also required. The number of Garda escorts required was based on a risk assessment which is an operational matter for An Garda Siochana. All of these costs are necessary to ensure that passengers reach their destination safely. The overall cost of the operation, once finally calculated, is likely to be in the region of €200,000. Further operations are being planned and will be conducted as the year progresses. For obvious reasons it would not be appropriate to reveal the exact timeframes for subsequent operations.
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). Over 1000 deportation orders have already been signed to date in 2025. In 2024, 1,116 people departed the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.) an increase of 252% compared to 2023. Up to 14 March 2025, 379 persons have departed the State in this manner.
