In an effort to coax undocumented migrants and rejected asylum applicants to return to their home nations, the government has disbursed upwards of €15 million over the prior 10 years. This incentive, devised to defray relocation and resettlement costs, has seen beneficiaries from numerous countries, including 57 from America and 707 from Brazil. The program also provides funds for repatriation counselling and assists with educational pursuits or the establishment of small businesses upon return to their home nations.
Each individual who voluntarily decides to go back can receive a standard grant of €1,200, while a family can get up to €2,000. The scheme’s intention is to lighten the burden on the Department of Justice and local law enforcement by reducing the need for costly and legally troublesome deportations. Potential applicants are educated that opting for this scheme over deportation can bring financial benefits.
Participants are then educated that they are entitled to reapply for asylum and can legally return to Ireland in the future, unlike deported individuals who face an immediate ban from EU and Irish soil.
Between 2013 and 2023, just over 3,200 people signed up for the voluntary scheme. The final acceptance rate was 80%, or 2,567 individuals, according to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
Brazilian migrants were the highest participants, with 841 applying and 707 getting their applications accepted in the last decade. In 2023, 74 Brazilians applied, and 71 were approved.
In addition to Brazilians, immigrants from other nations like Georgia, South Africa, and Mauritius have also come forward since 2013. Applicants from wealthier nations like the United States, Israel, and Australia have also tapped into this scheme.
However, the scheme’s approval rate varies greatly depending on the applicant’s nationality. For instance, 95% of the 174 Malaysian applicants and 86% of the Chinese were approved for the scheme. In contrast, only 64% of Albanians’ application was accepted. Interestingly, none of the applications from the five Canadians or seven Afghans were approved.
Payments were provided to individuals from various nations to return to their home countries, including 14 Iranians, 11 Iraqis, and 12 Russians. Last year, 236 individuals were granted these payments, comprising 72% of the applicants, consistent with trends seen in past years, barring the Covid-19 pandemic when immigration flow saw a sharp decline.
Administered by the International Organisation for Migration on behalf of the Department of Justice, the annual expenditure of the programme ranged from €920,000 in 2015 to €2 million in 2018. A total of €1.52 million was expended in the last year. This spending includes the cost of administration, travel, pre-departure and post-return counselling, medical expenses, and reintegration grants, according to the Department.
The voluntary return scheme saw a raise in the standard grant from €600 to €1,200 in 2020, and for families, it was increased from €1,000 to €2,000. This was based on the recommendation of a Government-appointed advisory group that evaluated the international protection process.
This group also suggested the extension of the acceptance period for entry into the voluntary return scheme from five to 30 days and proposed that children should be permitted to conclude the school term before their families’ departure.