Assistance to Irish citizens abroad
In recent years the Department of Foreign Affairs has provided support to thousands of Irish citizens in distress overseas. This has included assisting in a range of situations including arrests, missing persons, mental health or welfare concerns, and serious injury. Sadly, hundreds of families have required the services of the Department following the death of a loved one abroad.
Consistently high numbers of Irish people have needed help over the past few years as – with the exception of the steep decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic – they travel more, and more widely, than ever before. This presents fresh challenges for the Department as we seek to continue improving the assistance we provide to Irish citizens, and to consistently ensure that staff in our global network of Embassies and Consulates around the world provide a highly professional service.
|
All Missions |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Arrest |
227 |
402 |
316 |
371 |
254 |
123 |
|
Child Abduction |
30 |
40 |
36 |
15 |
15 |
9 |
|
Child Welfare |
2 |
56 |
55 |
46 |
21 |
19 |
|
Covid - 19 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6,828 |
|
Deaths Abroad |
272 |
250 |
320 |
292 |
293 |
253 |
|
Deportation |
68 |
85 |
90 |
74 |
66 |
28 |
|
Medical |
166 |
311 |
343 |
335 |
287 |
194 |
|
Mental Health |
43 |
76 |
93 |
77 |
98 |
60 |
|
Missing Person |
3 |
149 |
96 |
103 |
75 |
37 |
|
Other |
502 |
897 |
749 |
620 |
368 |
628 |
|
Prisoner |
59 |
58 |
68 |
50 |
47 |
27 |
| Repatriation |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
409 |
|
Victim of Crime |
6 |
168 |
151 |
143 |
124 |
43 |
|
Welfare |
228 |
248 |
280 |
217 |
209 |
197 |
|
Total |
1606 |
2740 |
2597 |
2343 |
1857 |
8,855 |
|
Total less Covid-19 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2,027 |