2435. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures being taken to address the acknowledged difficulty in determining whether persons subject to deportation orders have left the State without notifying authorities; whether consideration has been given to establishing a more systematic exit-recording arrangement at ports and airports; the timeline for the introduction of any entry-exit information system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58774/26]

2436. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number and percentage of deportation orders signed in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026 that, as of the latest available date, have resulted in an enforced deportation, a charter removal or a confirmed independent departure; the number in each annual cohort that remain outstanding, provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58791/26]

2437. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procedures used to confirm that a person subject to a deportation order has independently left the State; the State bodies, airlines, foreign authorities or international databases from which confirmation may be obtained; whether confirmation is systematically recorded against the relevant deportation order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58792/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2437, 2435 and 2436 together.

It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. 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 individuals who wish to return before a deportation order is issued to them.

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 number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024. 2,650 deportation orders have been signed up to 24 July 2026.

In 2024, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.). In 2025, 2,111 people had their departure confirmed through these pathways, an increase of 88% compared to 2024. Up to 24 July 2026, 1,294 people have departed the State through these pathways.

Tables 1 and 2 below detail the number of deportation orders signed, as well as the number enforced, from 2020 up to 24 July 2026.

Table 1

*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

Table 2. Deportation Enforcement 2020 to 24 July 2026

*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

** During the COVID- 19 Pandemic there was a moratorium on deportations. This was effective during the latter part of 2020, 2021 and for the first 8 months of 2022. During the moratorium only people who whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest were deported. This moratorium was lifted in July 2022.

*** A deportation order effected in any year may relate to an order signed in a previous year.

1. Otherwise confirmed deportations is where it has been confirmed a person has left the state following receipt of a deportation order without being escorted.

2. Other removals include Dublin III Transfer Orders of International Protection applicants to another EU State and EU Removal Orders for the return of EU Citizens under the Free Movement Regulations (these orders are made on grounds of criminality) and people who are deemed inadmissible under the International Protection Act.

The enforcement of deportation orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and my Department works closely with the GNIB to progress arrangements for the removal of people subject to deportation orders. If a person issued with a deportation order does not leave the State independently then they are required to present to the GNIB in accordance with the conditions of their deportation order.

Each deportation order is accompanied by a letter or notice that informs the person of their obligations and requirements, including the obligation to present to the GNIB at a particular time and date. Other requirements are outlined in the letter, such as the requirement to reside at their address pending their removal and the requirement to co-operate with the GNIB and produce any travel document to facilitate their removal from the State.

Any person who is the subject to a deportation order is ineligible for social assistance payments and a range of other public services such as accommodation.

It is the case that a significant number of individuals who were subject to deportation orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities; as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to definitely provide the number of people who have or have not complied with an order. I am, however, informed that the GNIB has reviewed a large sample of cases of people subject to deportation orders; their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.

It should be noted that individuals also comply with their deportation order and leave the State independently, and provide evidence of their departure to my Department such as flight tickets, boarding passes, the bio-data page of their passport and a re-entry stamp in their passport with the passport number clearly shown.

Information on the number and percentage of deportation orders that have resulted in an enforced deportation is not readily available. This would involve the manual examination of a large number of files requiring a disproportionate expenditure of staff resources.

Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me, and the Programme for Government commits to developing a comprehensive border security strategy, including the use of technology to support border screening. This work is underway and will, among other things, consider international developments in this regard, such as the development and roll-out of Exit-Entry Systems in the Schengen area and other jurisdictions.

Introducing such checks would have significant operational and practical implications, particularly in light of the land border and the operation of the Common Travel Area, and will require careful consideration in that context.