Limerick TD Calls for State Purchase of Dedicated Deportation Plane

Limerick TD Niall Collins has suggested that the State consider buying its own aircraft to carry out deportation flights, arguing it could reduce the cost of chartering such services.

Collins welcomed the recent Justice Minister announcement that a deportation flight transporting 43 men, women and children from Dublin Airport to Georgia was completed, noting the return journey cost €225,575, excluding VAT.

He pointed out that the Department of Justice chartered six deportation flights last year, removing 182 people subject to deportation orders and 23 EU nationals with removal orders. To date in 2026, 221 people have been removed by charter flight, and up to 18 September, 3,381 deportation orders had been signed.

Statistics show a sharp rise in deportation orders, with 4,700 signed in 2025 – a 96 % increase on 2024 – and the number of persons leaving Ireland through enforced deportation or voluntary return rising from 1,222 in 2024 to 2,111 in 2025, with 1,677 departures recorded up to 18 September this year.

Collins, a former Minister of State at the Justice Department, described deportation operations as “very complex, but important and necessary”, adding that flights are accompanied by Gardaí, medical staff, an interpreter and an independent human‑rights observer. He said further charter operations are planned for later in 2026.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Drinu Cutajar / Pexels.