Emigrants: Not enough help for return

The vast majority (98%) of Irish emigrants to Australia believe the Government is not doing enough to help them return.

The survey by the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce (IACC) also found 58% of emigrants plan to return to Ireland and that one in five of those hope to do so within a year.

High relocation costs and support while searching for employment were identified as the main barriers to their return.

The survey also revealed:

• Availability of employment was the main motivation for return at 63%; while desire to raise a family in Ireland or the need to care for elderly relatives also ranked highly.
• 76% of those planning to return would like to do so within the next five years.

On the back of the survey’s findings, the IACC, which works closely with IDA, Enterprise Ireland, and Invest NI, published a list of recommendations including:

• Tax incentives for Irish businesses which employ returning migrants;
• Tax exemptions for those who wish to return home to create new businesses;
• The need for a dedicated team within the Department of Social Protection and the HSE to help migrants who return with incomplete paperwork.

The IACC is also set to pilot a “returning migrants” scheme. The programme will involve the support of key partners both in Ireland and Australia. “We hope to get the support of the Irish Government through funding,” IACC chief Barry Corr said.

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