The scheme is to save the Department of Justice and gardaí from having to deport people who are not entitled to be in the country. Photograph: Alan Betson
Under the voluntary return scheme, each person is entitled to a standard grant of €1,200 or €2,000 per family unit. Just over 3,200 people applied to the scheme between 2013 and 2023, of which 2,567 were accepted, according to figures which were released following a Freedom of Information request. Other nationalities who applied for the scheme since 2013 include Georgians , South Africans and Mauritians .
But just 64 per cent of the 70 Albanians who applied were accepted. None of the five Canadians or seven Afghans were successful in their applications.A total of 236 people received payments last year, or 72 per cent of applicants. This is roughly in line with previous years, except for during the Covid-19 pandemic when applicants dropped dramatically in line with reduced immigration flows.