Ireland is preparing for an increase in deportation flights after the Department of Justice issued a new tender worth an estimated €14 million for chartered return operations. The proposed five-year contract signals that deportation flights are expected to become more frequent in the coming years.
Key details of the deportation flight tender
The Department of Justice, led by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, has invited providers to tender for aviation services connected with “return operations” carried out under the Immigration Act.
The contract is expected to run for five years and has an estimated value of approximately €14 million. That figure is almost three times the value associated with the previous contract issued in 2024, according to the information provided by the department.
The tender does not provide a public schedule for individual flights or specify how many people will be removed from the State. However, the scale of the planned spending indicates that the Government anticipates a substantially greater need for chartered flights than under the earlier arrangement.
- Estimated contract value: €14 million
- Contract duration: five years
- Purpose: chartered flights for immigration return operations
- Legal basis: the Immigration Act
- Expected impact: more deportation flights in the years ahead
Why deportation flights are increasing
The proposed contract comes as the State plans for a higher level of immigration enforcement and returns. Deportation flights are used when people who are subject to removal cannot be returned through ordinary commercial travel or when authorities require additional operational arrangements.
Return operations can involve cooperation between the Department of Justice, the Garda Síochána, immigration officials, airlines and authorities in destination countries. Depending on the circumstances, flights may include security arrangements and coordinated transfers from detention or other locations.
The department’s decision to seek a multi-year charter service is designed to provide capacity when flights are required. It also gives the State a standing arrangement rather than requiring a separate procurement process every time a return operation is organised.
What the Immigration Act means for return operations
Irish immigration law allows the State to issue deportation orders in certain circumstances. A deportation order requires a person to leave Ireland and permits their removal if they do not depart voluntarily or if the authorities determine that an enforced return is necessary.
Every case is subject to the applicable legal procedures, including consideration of relevant representations and any rights of appeal or review. A tender for flight services does not itself create deportation orders or determine who will be removed. It provides the transport capacity required to implement decisions already made under immigration law.
People affected by an immigration decision may have access to legal advice and procedural safeguards, depending on their circumstances. The operation of those safeguards remains separate from the procurement of charter services.
Previous Garda deportation operation
The announcement follows earlier Garda-supported return operations. In February 2025, Gardaí were involved in an overnight flight during which 32 people were deported to Georgia.
That operation illustrated the logistical requirements involved in group removals, including coordination between law enforcement, immigration authorities and the destination country. The new tender suggests that similar operations may be carried out more regularly, although the available information does not confirm the number, destination or timing of future flights.
The Department of Justice has issued an estimated €14 million tender for a five-year charter flight service. The department has also indicated that deportation flights are expected to rise. No detailed timetable for future operations has been published in the supplied information.
What happens next?
Potential service providers will submit bids as part of the procurement process. The Department of Justice will then assess the tenders before awarding the contract. Further details, such as the successful provider, operational start date and specific service arrangements, are expected to become clearer once the process advances.
The final level of deportation activity will depend on several factors, including the number of enforceable deportation orders, court or administrative decisions, cooperation with destination countries and the availability of suitable travel arrangements.
The department may also face scrutiny over the cost and oversight of the contract. As public money is being used, questions about value for money, transparency and the treatment of people during return operations are likely to remain part of the wider public debate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the new deportation flight contract worth?
The Department of Justice has estimated the value of the new tender at approximately €14 million.
How long will the contract last?
The proposed contract will run for five years.
Does the tender confirm a specific number of deportations?
No. It indicates that more chartered return flights are anticipated, but it does not state how many people will be removed or provide a flight schedule.
What are deportation flights used for?
They are used to transport people subject to enforced return where chartered or specially arranged travel is considered necessary under Ireland’s immigration procedures.
Follow DailyDigest for further Ireland News, Garda News and public services updates as more information about the procurement process becomes available.
Why this matters
The planned €14 million contract represents a significant expansion of the State’s budget for chartered deportation services compared with the 2024 arrangement. It points to a more structured and sustained approach to immigration returns rather than occasional, separately arranged flights.
For readers, the central development is the Government’s expectation that deportation flights will increase over the next five years. The details of how that policy will operate in practice, including oversight and the number of people affected, will become clearer as the tender is awarded and future return operations are announced.
Bottom line: Ireland has begun the process of securing a five-year, €14 million charter flight service, with the Department of Justice signalling that deportation flights are set to rise.