State spending on deportations carried out via chartered flights has now exceeded €2.88 million since February of last year.
New data released by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan shows that €2.88m has been spent on 10 charter flights since February 2025, reports Breaking News.
The most recent flight, which departed Dublin Airport for South Africa on Thursday, cost €735,000 and was used to enforce deportation orders on 42 South African nationals, including 15 children, 18 women and nine men, with all children travelling as part of family units.
Since February last year, a total of 377 people have been deported on charter flights, averaging €7,639 per person, reports Breaking News.
The reported costs do not include Garda overtime associated with each operation.
The €735,000 South Africa flight is the most expensive deportation charter to date.
Previously, the second most costly flight was also to South Africa, costing €585,075 when 63 individuals were removed, reports Breaking News.
The third highest-cost operation occurred last September when 24 people were deported to Pakistan at a cost of €473,000.
The first deportation charter took place in February 2025, when 32 people were removed to Georgia at a cost of €102,476, followed by two additional Georgia flights in May costing €103,751 and another in November costing €187,625, reports Breaking News.
Other destinations include Nigeria, where €324,714 was spent, Romania at €69,475, and combined Poland/Lithuania operations carried out twice, costing €187,625 in November and €184,465 last month.
In a written reply to Fianna Fáil TD Séamus McGrath, Mr O’Callaghan confirmed that charter flight services are provided by Air Partner Ltd under a contract signed in November 2024 following a competitive procurement process, reports Breaking News.
He said the contract has a potential value of €5m over its lifespan.
“The term of the contract is 3 years with a possibility to extend it twice by one year, a potential lifespan of 5 years in total,” he said, reports Breaking News.
He added that total expenditure depends on the number and frequency of flights required based on operational needs.
Recent financial accounts for Gatwick-based Air Partner Ltd show pre-tax profits of £8.5m in 2024, with revenue rising 4% to £72.89m.
Mr O’Callaghan said charter flights offer an alternative to commercial flights and can be more suitable when multiple individuals are being removed to the same destination, reports Breaking News.
“This has increased the options available to An Garda Síochána to effect removals and deportations,” he said, reports Breaking News.
He added that several factors influence deportation costs, including passenger numbers, destination country, and transit arrangements when direct flights are not available, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Callaghan also noted that deportation orders in 2025 have risen to 4,700, a 96% increase compared with 2024.
So far this year, 2,108 deportation orders have been issued as of June 5th.
He said deportation enforcement is costly and complex, adding that voluntary return remains the preferred option through existing government programmes, reports Breaking News.
“It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based,” he said. “The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure confidence in the application of our legislation in this area,” reports Breaking News.
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