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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