More than 1,600 asylum-seekers were paid to leave Ireland in last two yearsGovernment spent €3m on deportation flights in 2025 in move to tackle immigrationJustice Minister Jim O'CallaghanWayne O'Connor and Maeve McTaggart Today at 06:30Asylum-seekers have been paid more than €1m by the State over the last two years to leave Ireland as part of a scheme enticing them to drop their claims to stay.

Source: Irish Independent March 29, 2026 06:02 UTC