Big fall in number of deportations

The number of deportations carried out so far this year has fallen dramatically and there has been a similar drop in the number of new deportation orders signed.

Statistics from the Department of Justice show that as of the end of September, 103 deportations had been effected. At the same stage last year, 368 people had been deported from Ireland and 428 were deported in all of 2016.

The department said the time lag between deportation orders being signed and then carried out, coupled with the lead-in period for new procedures under the International Protection Act, impacted on the number of people being deported.