Limerick TD suggests Government buys own plane for deportations

LIMERICK Minister Niall Collins suggested the State purchase its own plane to potentially save on the cost of chartering deportation flights.

Minister Collins welcomed the announcement this week by the Minister for Justice that a deportation flight carrying 43 men women and children, who had deportation orders enforced against them, was completed from Dublin Airport to Georgia.

However, Minister Collins suggested that it might be worth the State looking into pricing a plane to conduct deportation flights.

In total, the return flight for the deportation to Georgia last Sunday cost the State €225,575, excluding VAT.

Last year, the Irish government chartered six deportation flights, removing 182 people who were subject to deportation orders, as well as 23 EU nationals subject to “removal orders”, the Department of Justice revealed.

In 2026 to date, 221 people have been removed from the State by charter flight.

Up to last Friday (September 18), 3,381 deportation orders had been signed. In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed – an increase of 96 per cent on 2024.

“Deportation flights are hugely necessary to ensure Ireland has a robust immigration system. Given the frequency in the number of deportation flights, the Department of Justice should consider purchasing its own dedicated deportation plane for these flights,” the Limerick TD said.

The number of persons who have left the Republic of Ireland through enforced deportation, voluntary return, etc, rose from 1,222 in 2024 to 2,111 in 2025, and stood at 1,677 up to September 18 this year.

‘Voluntary return’ is an alternative option open to illegal immigrants, including persons who are refused international protection. If this option is used, a deportation order is not required, nor is it served on the person.

The voluntary return programme is not offered to persons who have committed serious crimes in the State.

According to figures published by the Justice Department, in 2024, the number of voluntary returns stood at 934, which increased to 1,116 in 205, and which stood at 1,202 persons up to September 18

Minister Collins, who formerly served as a Minister of State at the Justice Department, said the deportation operations “are very complex, but important and necessary”.

“They help to ensure that people follow the pathways in place for legal migration and also provide the public with confidence that we have a robust and rules based migration system.”

He said the deported or removed persons are accompanied on the flights by members of An Garda Síochána, medical staff, an interpreter as well as an independent human rights observer.

He pledged that further charter deportation operations will be conducted later in 2026.