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Almost €1m spent on flights to deport foreign nationals last year

The Department of Justice spent almost €1m on flights to deport foreign nationals last year. It...
Eoghan Murphy
Eoghan Murphy

10.07 22 Apr 2020


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Almost €1m spent on flights to...

Almost €1m spent on flights to deport foreign nationals last year

Eoghan Murphy
Eoghan Murphy

10.07 22 Apr 2020


Share this article


The Department of Justice spent almost €1m on flights to deport foreign nationals last year.

It is a 40% increase on the €707,000 spent in 2018.

Deportation orders are issued to people who are here illegally or who have failed in their application for asylum.

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According to details released under the Freedom of Information Act, there were 2,027 issued to foreign nationals last year – up from 1,186 the year before.

When these orders are issued, people are legally obliged to leave the State.

They are only enforced by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) if people refuse to do so.

A total of 298 orders were enforced in 2019 – up from 163 in 2018.

Last year, 63 Pakistani people were removed from the country - with Nigerians the next highest at 40.

The Department of Justice spent €995,000 on deportation flights last year - but it says it can apply to a European Union fund to recoup 75% of the costs.

Main image: A plane takes off from London's Stansted Airport in England. Picture by: Chris Radburn/PA Archive/PA Images

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Department Of Justice Deportation Deportation Costs Deportations FOI Foreign Nationals Freedom Of Information GNIB Ireland

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