Deportation flight to South Africa for 63 people cost €612k
A deportation flight to South Africa was dogged by delays over travel documents for children and other people targeted for removal from the State.
Internal Department of Justice briefings show 63 people were ultimately onboard the €612,000 charter operation to Johannesburg, while earlier preparations had involved around 80 individuals being considered or targeted for removal.
The average cost per person worked out at around €9,700, not including staff costs for a substantial number of Garda escorts.
A briefing for Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “The significant challenge, at this point, is receiving the required travel documents from the South African authorities in a timely fashion.”
Officials said cooperation from the South African Embassy had been “excellent” but that some removals were complicated by the involvement of children.
The briefing added: “They have not yet issued documents for some children (including adult children) as there are procedural...
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