PAC calls for more transparency over deportation costs

Updated / Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 13:04

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The Dáil spending watchdog has called for greater transparency around the costs of deportations including both commercial and charter flights.

The Public Accounts Committee published a report on spending on providing international protection and temporary protection to asylum seekers and Ukrainians in Ireland.

On deportations, the report found that six charter flights costing €1.667 million removed 205 individuals in 2025, while four flights costing €2.13m had removed 172 people by June of this year.

These figures do not include garda costs. In 2025, a total of 539 gardaí escorted flights and 449 have done the same so far this year.

TDs have called for a dedicated breakdown of these costs from 2026 onwards.

On one flight to South Africa in February this year, 133 gardaí accompanied 63 returnees.

The cost of the plane was €719,000 with added medical costs of over €19,000 and an additional €5,000 for a flight manager.

The committee has also recommended that the Department of Justice set out a detailed plan for expanding State-owned Ipas accommodation including annual capacity targets.

TDs have called for the department to outline its retrospective reconciliation of historical overpayments to commercial Ipas operators.

The committee also examined the 2024 spending on international protection and temporary protection which has previously been examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Committee chair Sinn Féin TD John Brady said that their examination uncovered alarming weaknesses in governance, procurement and contract management in what he said was a chaotic system.

Mr Brady said that the scale and urgency of the challenge in recent years could not excuse such lapses.