930. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 63165/26 of 7 September 2026, the measures being taken to reduce the average period of 56 to 57 days between the completion of a custodial sentence and the enforcement of a removal or deportation order; the number of persons subject to a valid deportation or removal order who were released from custody prior to removal in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65390/26]

933. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 63167/26 of 7 September 2026, the amount reclaimed, or expected to be reclaimed, under the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund in respect of the charter flight operations conducted on grounds of criminality in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65388/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 930 and 933 together.

Under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), my Department can reclaim up to 75% of costs related to the removal or return of Third Country Nationals from the State.

My Department has identified four areas in respect of which these costs can be recouped:

Charter Operations,

Commercial Flight costs,

Garda National Immigration Bureau escort duties and

Reintegration Service provider fees.

Claims are submitted to the AMIF Managing Authority and are audited and submitted at regular intervals. Charter operations to other EU member States under the Free Movement of Persons Regulations 2015 cannot be considered for this AMIF.

To date, no reclaim request has been submitted for Charter operations in 2026. On 28 July 2026, my Department participated in the Frontex led Joint Return Operation to Nigeria. Invoicing for this operation has yet to be finalised. Once completed, a proportion can be reclaimed under the EU AMIF.

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.

The removal of people who are involved in criminality and those who are a danger to society is a priority for me as Minister and my Department works closely with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service to ensure high risk persons are prioritised for removal from Ireland.

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.

When a Deportation Order or a Removal Order is imposed on individuals involved in criminality, whether while serving a custodial sentence or while in the community, their removal from the State becomes an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

The table below sets out the number of people removed to 4th September 2026.

The table below sets out the number of people removed on grounds of criminality in 2025.

The table below sets out the number of people removed on grounds of criminality in 2024.

The table below sets out the number of people removed on grounds of criminality in 2023.

* Please note that not all people removed from the state on grounds of criminality received custodial sanctions.

** Please note that the above table reflects individuals who had orders imposed while serving a custodial sentence and were then subsequently released from custody.

The above figures are subject to change as information becomes available and data is cleansed.