South Africans deported from Ireland on charter flight, minister says
The flight, which departed from Dublin, cost at least 735,000 euro.
Some 42 South Africans were removed from Ireland on a charter flight on Thursday, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has said.
The flight, which left Dublin at 3.30pm, carried nine men, 18 women and 15 children, his department confirmed.
They said the children were all part of family units.
Also on the flight were members of An Garda Síochána, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.
The cost of the charter flight alone was 735,000 euro excluding VAT for the return flight, but the total cost of the operation has not yet been finalised.
It is the fourth deportation charter flight so far in 2026, with 130 people, including 67 EU citizens, removed from the state this year and more charter flights planned.
In 2025, six charter flights saw 205 people deported on charter flights.
Mr O’Callaghan said deportation orders are an “essential requirement” for the Irish immigration system “to work effectively and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of our legislation in this area”.
He added the “vast majority” of South Africans in Ireland are legally resident “and positively contribute to society”.
Last year, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, up 96% compared to 2024, with 2,108 signed to date this year.