Ireland’s Department of Justice has issued a €14 million tender for charter deportation services, signaling a significant ramp-up in removals over the next five years. The new contract, which replaces a €5 million deal from 2024, will increase the department’s capacity to conduct more deportation flights, according to the department.
Department Boosts Charter Spending
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan heads the Department of Justice, which placed a €14 million valuation on the new tender for charter flight services concerning “return operations” under the Immigration Act. This figure is nearly triple the value of the prior tender, issued in mid-2024 with an estimated value of €5 million over a three-year period. The department explained that the tender was designed “to account for increased costs associated with conducting charters, as well as bolstering the department’s capacity to conduct more charter flights than the contract in 2024”.
Recent Deportation Activity
Charter flight deportations began again in 2025, and the new tender process is taking place as flights have risen this year. “Seven charter flights to date in 2026 have seen the removal of 245 people from the State, including 91 EU citizens who were removed on grounds of criminality,” the department said. Last year, there were six charter flights, removing 205 people. The priciest of these flights was to South Africa in June, which saw 42 individuals removed at a projected cost of €735,000.
Scope of Services and Rationale
The services outlined in the new tender involve the supply of charter planes “and all services required to support the return from this State of persons who do not have permission to be in the State, upon these aircraft, by An Garda Síochána”. The tender document observes that “the State is experiencing large numbers of individuals claiming international protection or seeking entry to the State by other means” and that “it is clear not all of these individuals will be given permission to remain”. The department indicated that the current Air Partner Ltd contract is “near its conclusion as it is close to its contract value”.
