That is a 72 per cent rise on 2024, when 934 people left the State by way of voluntary return. In 2025, the Department of Justice had spent €262,453 on reintegration assistance payments up to the end of May. The higher level of grants is not available to people who applied for international protection status after September 28th. The increase in payments was introduced to incentivise leaving the State voluntarily. It said there can be a time lag between an individual receiving reintegration assistance and the reporting of that expenditure.
