‘Red-tape’, employment, accommodation and emotional well-being are the main challenges associated to returning to Ireland according to a survey of recently returned Irish emigrants.
Forming the basis of a new report by Crosscare Migrant Project, the responses provide real insight into the experiences of Irish emigrants who have made the move back to Ireland in the last two years. 400 people took part in the detailed research project.
Many of those who took part in the research were living abroad for between 3 to 5 years. Several expressed surprise at the unexpected emotional cost of returning to Ireland. Some stated feeling alienated upon return, ‘Mentally it was tough. At times it felt like the country I was born in was making it as difficult as possible for me to move back’. Others note, ‘People expect you to just return to normal as though you have never been away’. Overwhelmingly, being closer to family is given as the main reason for return.
Ireland has recently seen increased numbers of its emigrants returning from abroad, with inward migration of Irish citizens in 2016 up by 74% on the previous year1. Though many of the difficulties raised in the report affect all of Ireland’s population, these can be very difficult to overcome for people returning in crisis. Speaking about Crosscare Migrant Project’s work with returned Irish citizens, Sarah Owen (Irish Abroad Networking Officer with Crosscare) said:
“As we have been seeing for some time in our direct work, not all our emigrants make a planned return to Ireland. Some people come home in very difficult situations, with little income or support. For this reason we are liaising with Government over practical issues such as the application of the Habitual Residence Condition, and fast tracked PPS numbers for people coming home with children. We have also been in contact with the Department of Housing in relation to barriers for returning Irish emigrants accessing homeless supports.”
As well as challenges, the report also features benefits to return and key advice for others considering a move back to Ireland, such as ‘Research and budget in advance’ and ‘Do it for yourself and not for others’.
The survey was conducted online between November 2016 and January 2017.
400 qualified responses were received by Irish emigrants who had returned to live in Ireland in the last 2 years. Key findings of the subsequent ‘Home for Good?’ report were as follows:
- Age: Over 32% were between 26 to 30 years old
- Time spent abroad: 40% lived abroad for a period of 3 and 5 years
- Family status: 63% returned with family (partner/spouse/children)
- Reason for return: 83% said proximity to family was the main reason for return
- Future plans: 55% plan to remain in Ireland permanently
- In employment: 85% prior to return, 70% post-return
- Top 3 countries of return: 1) Australia (41% or 163 respondents) 2) United Kingdom (23% or 91 respondents) 3) United States of America (9% or 37 respondents)
- 5 main challenges: 1) Insurance and administrative issues (car insurance, driving licences, tax etc.) 2) Employment (finding employment, foreign qualifications, temporary contacts) 3) Accommodation (cost and availability of private rented accommodation, mortgages) 4) Reintegration to Irish life & culture 5) Social support and emotional wellbeing (loss of support networks, isolation, reverse-homesickness)
Crosscare Migrant Project’s new report entitled ‘Home for Good?’ will be launched at Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin today May 3rd 2017 and is available online at http://bit.ly/2pCNWds
