Charter flight in June deported 42 people who were escorted by 84 gardaí and medical team
The cost of the deportation flight to South Africa works out at about €24,000 for each of the 42 passengers. Illustration: Paul ScottThe State paid more than €1 million for a single deportation flight when returning 42 adults and children from Ireland to Figures supplied by the Department of Justice to the Public Accounts Committee show that the cost of chartering the aircraft for the flight on June 19th amounted to €904,000 with an additional €38,000 in costs for two medical personnel, a flight manager, and a human rights observer.
The figure does not include the pay, expenses, accommodation and overtime for the 84 gardaí – two for each of the people being deported – who escorted the deportees to South Africa. That additional expenditure has brought the overall figure for the single flight to more than €1 million.
A sombre Dáil sets divisions aside for apology to Bill Kenneally victimsGive credit to employers: issue of who funds workplace benefits is rarely mentioned In correspondence with the PAC, the secretary general of the Department of Justice, Doncha O’Sullivan, supplied no figures for the Garda costs, saying they were covered by the separate Garda budgetary allocation, as were interpreter costs. O’Sullivan was responding to a request from the PAC for specific details on costs and arrangements for deportations.
In all, almost €4 million has been spent on the 10 deportation flights chartered since February 2025. Three have been to Georgia; two have been to Poland and Lithuania; one has been to Romania; one to Pakistan; one to Nigeria; and two have been to South Africa. In all, 377 people have been returned to their country of origin. A total of 988 gardaí have been involved in the operations, an average of 2.6 for each deportee.
O’Sullivan added that the department plans to seek reimbursement of 75 per cent all the costs associated with chartered and scheduled deportation flights under a specific EU fund and said it had received €1.84 million under this fund to date. The rationale for the number of Garda escorts on the flight is linked to the risk posed by the passengers, said O’Sullivan in the correspondence.
“A deportation is a forced return and persons who are being returned will often not co-operate with the process – hence the need for a higher number of escorts. “For example, a higher number of returnees with criminal backgrounds will warrant a higher number of Garda escorts, as will a higher number of adult returnees.
“A backup team is required to facilitate the smooth running of the operational elements of the charter in the case of an unanticipated event, such as a Garda escort being injured or if there is a medical emergency. The primary responsibility of the Garda escorts is to ensure that the return is conducted in a safe, calm, courteous and professional manner, especially when there are children and family groups on flights,” he said.
The costs of chartering planes has increased significantly during 2026. The fee for chartering an aircraft to deport 63 people, escorted by 133 gardaí, to South Africa in February this year was €719,000. Just four months later, in June, the cost of chartering the aircraft for a similar trip to South Africa with substantially fewer passengers on board was almost €200,000 more expensive at €904,000.
The Department of Justice has not responded to queries on why the cost of chartering aircraft increased significantly during the course of 2026. Minister defends decision not to distinguish between miscarriage and abortion in new leave lawGive credit to employers: issue of who funds workplace benefits is rarely mentionedIrishman in Sydney: This place has the weather, beaches and beauty, but it comes at a costThe ‘rough sex’ defence didn’t work for Lorcan Murphy.
He wasn’t the first to try itR&A remains committed to bringing Open Championship to Portmarnock Our politics team's behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. Sent Monday to Friday when the Dáil is in session
Please follow us on Google to support usIreland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Musgrave sells SuperValu store in south Dublin to the Pettit familyPettit’s SuperValu operates seven stores, mostly in the south-east
Read more »
Ireland Imposes Hosepipe Ban Amid Drought and Soaring Water DemandUisce Eireann has announced a hosepipe ban effective from July 16 to August 26 due to exceptionally warm, dry weather that has driven water demand 20% above normal. The Water Conservation Order targets areas under severe strain, including Greater Dublin, Wexford and south Tipperary, where daily consumption significantly exceeds averages. The utility urges nationwide water conservation and offers tips to protect essential supplies for homes, hospitals and critical services.
Read more »
Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to serve rest of Republican’s US Senate termDarline Graham Nordone’s brother, a South Carolina senator and Trump ally, died on Saturday aged 71 after a brief illness
Read more »
South Dublin construction group reports significant increase in profits and revenuesDwyer Nolan Developments Ltd has reported a significant increase in profits and revenues, with pretax profit increasing from €4.04 million to €42.4 million, a more than 10-fold increase, as revenues rose from €38.6 million to €241.3 million.
Read more »