The number of migrants seeking assistance to return to their home countries nearly doubled last year, as the State spent more than €1.6 million supporting people leaving Ireland, reports Breaking News.
Over 2,300 individuals applied for help to return home in the past year, marking a significant rise from the 1,249 applications recorded in 2024, reports Breaking News.
The vast majority of applications were approved, with fewer than 70 applicants refused State assistance.
Total spending on voluntary returns reached €1.61 million last year, including close to €695,000 on grants and an additional €916,000 covering flights and accommodation, reports Breaking News.
These grants, ranging from €1,200 for individuals to €10,000 for families, are designed to support migrants in re-establishing themselves in their countries of origin.
Typically, the funds are issued on a pre-paid debit card at the point of departure, allowing immediate use upon arrival back home, reports Breaking News.
In 2024, expenditure on the scheme stood at €1.06 million, based on figures released under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.
This total included €285,000 allocated to reintegration grants and €779,000 spent on airfare and accommodation costs, reports Breaking News.
Across the past two years, approximately €684,000 was distributed in individual grants, with a further €295,000 provided to families.
According to the Department of Justice, nationals from Georgia accounted for more than 20% of all applications under the scheme, reports Breaking News.
In 2025, 2,315 people applied for assistance to return home, including 526 Georgian nationals.
The figures also included 420 applicants from Brazil, 342 from Jordan, and 107 from Nigeria, reports Breaking News.
Additional applications came from 38 individuals from the United States, 12 from Russia, and 61 from Palestine.
The data also showed five applications from people in Canada and nine from Israel, reports Breaking News.
Almost all requests for assistance are approved. Last year, only 40 applicants were deemed ineligible, compared to 26 in 2024.
The scheme is a one-time option and, unlike deportation, allows individuals the possibility of returning to Ireland in the future, reports Breaking News.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said voluntary return remains their “preferred option” and represents a more cost-effective solution for taxpayers.
He said: “Financial reintegration assistance, which can only be availed of once, is provided when the person has departed the State,
“Not all participants in the Voluntary Return programme immediately pursue their reintegration assistance upon leaving the State, and some may not pursue it at all,” reports Breaking News.
The spokesperson added that the department’s figures are subject to revision and may increase over time, reports Breaking News.
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