Next year the target for ending emigration

Next year may mark the end of the most recent phase of emigration, with more Irish people returning home than leaving the country.

The target unveiled by Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to see inward migration of 5,000 Irish citizens next year.

Ireland lost a net total of more than 23,000 citizens to emigration in the 12 months to April.

However, Enda Kenny said he believed the flow of emigrants was levelling off, and that next year he wanted more Irish people coming into Ireland than leaving it:

€2m is being invested in the Home to Work campaign trying to encourage Christmas visitors and other emigrants to come back full-time.

For those staying abroad, the Taoiseach is supporting plans to give emigrant citizens the right to vote in Presidential elections.