In a dramatic shift from its open-borders approach, the Republic of Ireland will now pay migrant families up to €10,000 ($11,700) to voluntarily withdraw their asylum claims and return to their home countries. The policy, announced by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, nearly doubles the previous payouts for voluntary returns.
Under the new order, individual asylum seekers will be offered €2,500 ($2,900), while families can receive up to €10,000 if they agree to drop their claims and depart. The program is limited to applicants still awaiting a decision on their asylum cases who have not committed crimes while in Ireland.
The government argues that the scheme will save taxpayers significant money. The Department of Justice estimates that each asylum seeker costs around €122,000 ($143,000) to support during the process, including housing, food, and social benefits. Deportations are also costly; a single flight to Nigeria removing 35 migrants cost the government €325,000 ($381,000).
Voluntary return schemes are increasingly common in Europe. Sweden currently pays €5,000 ($5,900) to asylum seekers who leave and is considering offering up to €30,000 ($35,000) to long-term unemployed or welfare-dependent migrants. Germany’s program has also shown results, with over 8,000 failed asylum seekers voluntarily leaving in 10 months last year.
Ireland’s decision comes amid growing frustration with mass migration. The country’s migrant population has doubled since 2006, now accounting for one in five residents. The surge has coincided with rising social unrest, increased crime tied to migrants, and stagnant wages as the labor market absorbs cheaper foreign labor.
By increasing payouts for voluntary returns, Dublin appears to be acknowledging that its asylum system has become financially unsustainable and socially destabilizing. Whether the plan will significantly reduce Ireland’s migrant population remains to be seen, but officials point to European precedents as evidence of its potential effectiveness.
