Asylum seekers whose applications fail are mainly deported to Britain, Nigeria or Pakistan, The Irish Mirror can reveal.
The Department of Justice revealed some people who are ordered to leave Ireland don’t alert the authorities about their departure after they receive a deportation order – so are not reflected in the numbers.
The data released to us relate to those which are known about and include enforced removals carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
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Between 2012 and 2023, 428 asylum seekers were sent to the UK after their international protection application was denied, 158 went to Nigeria and 119 travelled to Pakistan.
During the same period, the Department of Justice said there were 1,161 overall cases that they were aware of, data obtained from a Freedom of Information request shows.
Failed international protection applicants were also sent to countries such as Albania, China, Georgia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Brazil, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania.
A number of European countries also featured such as France, Germany, and Italy.
International protection applicants are given accommodation, food, and medical care along with legal aid once they apply for asylum in Ireland.
The Department of Justice said the deportation of failed asylum seekers was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic except under exceptional circumstances.
They said they began deporting again last July. In a statement, they added: "Seeking protection is a human right and when someone asks for protection at the border of a country, that country’s authorities must examine that application, regardless of nationality.
"The Government is committed to ensuring that the State’s immigration processes follow fair procedure, includes avenues for appeal and allow access to professional legal advice in accordance with national and international immigration law.
"Deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system; it must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must return to their own country, following fair procedure and having gone through all available avenues for appeal. A person subject to a Deportation Order has no legal basis to remain in the State.
"Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and all available appeals processes have been exhausted."
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