Emigrants phoning home more often

Many young people who have emigrated over the past two years say they are speaking more frequently with their parents now than when they lived in Ireland.

This is one of the more unexpected findings in a survey published by the National Youth Council of Ireland, called Time to Go.

It found that one in four families in Ireland have been directly affected by emigration and rely on Skype, free web applications, and other information communication technology to keep in touch.

Many young people said their emigration was much harder for their parents than it was for them.

When asked about their five-year plan, again many felt they would eventually return to Ireland.

They said they hoped to return to a better Ireland, one that had turned a corner and could offer them better opportunities and work in their chosen career. One young person was hoping to return to an Ireland that was no longer “full of greed”.

Of the 308,000 people who left Ireland in the four years to Apr 2012, 41% are aged 15 to 24.

The NYCI, an umbrella body representing over 50 youth organisations around the country, wants the Government to develop and implement a strategy for Irish emigrants.

Deputy director James Doorley said while the experience of many young people was positive, the Government should develop a strategy for those who needed help.

According to the report, half of Irish 18- to 24-year-olds still living in Ireland said they would consider emigrating and four out of 10 adults aged between 25 and 34 have also considered leaving.

It also suggests that emigration is not just a matter for the country’s young people as over one in four of those aged between 35 and 54 have also considered moving abroad.

The NYCI also points out that there has been an absence of reliable data on who is emigrating and where they are going.

The body is urging the Government to use data from University College Cork’s Emigré study, due to be published in September, in developing a policy response to emigration.

The 12-month study is trying to discover who is leaving Ireland; why are they leaving; where are they going; and whether they intend to return.

It is also looking at the impact emigration is having on Irish society and how the current situation compares with previous decades.

The UCC study is being carried out at the Department of Geography and the Institute for Social Science in the 21st Century and is funded by the Irish Research Council.

The researchers point out that not all Irish people who are leaving today are going due to the economic situation.

They say the project will demonstrate the variety of reasons behind people’s decision to leave Ireland and discover who is more likely to return in the future.