Over 800 people subject to deportation orders still residing in IPAS centres

Darragh Mc Donagh

More than 800 people who have been issued with deportation orders are still residing in state-funded IPAS accommodation at a cost of over €550,000 per week, new figures have revealed.

A recently published government report found that the average nightly cost of accommodating individuals in IPAS centres had increased to €99 per person during 2025.

This week, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirmed that in excess of 800 people subject to deportation orders are still residing in IPAS accommodation despite being formally instructed to leave the state.

The cost of accommodating 800 individuals at the latest average rate would be €79,200 per night or €554,400 every week.

The information was provided by Mr O’Callaghan to Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn in response to a parliamentary question this week. The number of people who had been removed from IPAS accommodation following the issuance of deportation orders was not available.

“Some people subject to deportation orders may have the enforcement of their order suspended due to legal proceedings or due to personal circumstances such as health grounds,” said the minister.

“Others will be in the process of arranging to leave the State as directed.”

He said the number of individuals subject to deportation orders in IPAS accommodation fluctuates regularly as people leave the state through various return pathways or as new deportation orders are issued.

However, he said the number currently exceeds 800. This represents a marked increase since last October, when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) heard that around 500 people were in such a position.

The number of deportation orders signed in 2025 almost doubled to 4,700 compared to the previous year. During the same period, confirmed departures of individuals subject to these orders rose by 88 per cent to 2,111.

Mr O’Callaghan said his department works closely with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to coordinate the removal of persons who do not leave the state independently.

“If a person issued with a deportation order does not leave the state independently, then they are required to present to the GNIB in accordance with the conditions of their deportation order,” he added.