BRINGING IRELAND HOME

OUR APPROACH

Ireland has a huge resource beyond our shores: Irish people who have left to study, work and build careers abroad. Éire Láidir will make bringing Irish people home — and giving young people a reason to stay — a national priority. We will work to create an Ireland where people can build a career, buy or rent a home, raise a family and build a future without feeling that leaving the country is their only option.

1. A NATIONAL “BRING IRELAND HOME” PROGRAMME

• Establish a dedicated programme to actively encourage Irish citizens and Irish-born skilled workers living overseas to return.
• Create a single point of access for employment opportunities, housing information, qualification recognition, tax and financial information, healthcare and education information, and practical relocation support.

2. TARGET OUR SKILLED IRISH DIASPORA

• Establish a Global Irish Skills Register allowing Irish professionals abroad to register their expertise and receive information about opportunities at home.
• Priority recruitment could include healthcare, engineering, construction, technology, science, education, skilled trades, finance and research.
• Bring Irish skills and experience home.

3. RETURN HOME EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVES

• Work with Irish employers and State agencies to identify positions where experienced Irish workers abroad can fill genuine skills shortages.
• Create a Return Home Employment Programme providing a national jobs portal, direct employer links, recognition of overseas experience, qualification support and relocation assistance where appropriate.

IRELAND SHOULD NOT SIMPLY WATCH ITS PEOPLE LEAVE — IT SHOULD GIVE THEM REASONS TO STAY AND A REASON TO COME HOME.

09 BRINGING IRELAND HOME

RETURNING HOME SHOULD BE SIMPLE, PRACTICAL AND WORTHWHILE

4. MAKE RETURNING HOME EASIER

• Create a “Welcome Home Ireland” service to help returning citizens navigate PPS numbers, driving licences, tax, social protection, healthcare, schools and childcare, housing, banking, employment and professional registration.
• Reduce unnecessary administrative barriers and provide clear information before people return.

5. STOP LOSING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

• The best long-term response to emigration is to make Ireland a place where young people can realistically build their future.
• Link this policy directly to housing supply, affordable homes, apprenticeships and skills, better employment opportunities, regional development, childcare, family support, transport and infrastructure.
• Young Irish people should not have to leave Ireland simply to afford a home or build a career.

6. REGIONAL RETURN & OPPORTUNITY

• Encourage employment and investment across Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, the Midlands, Border regions and rural Ireland.
• Support remote and hybrid employment, regional enterprise and high-skilled jobs so returning emigrants can build careers while strengthening communities outside the major cities.

7. RETURNING ENTREPRENEURS

• Create a Returnee Enterprise Programme for Irish emigrants seeking to start a business, expand an Irish business, bring international investment home, create employment or establish technology and innovation businesses.
• Connect returning entrepreneurs with enterprise supports, finance, skills networks and local development opportunities.

09 BRINGING IRELAND HOME

KEEP OUR TALENT CONNECTED TO IRELAND • MAKE RETURNING HOME WORTHWHILE

8. KEEPING OUR YOUNG TALENT

• Leaving Ireland temporarily to study or work abroad should not mean losing that person permanently.
• Create stronger links between Irish students abroad, Irish graduates, Irish employers, universities and industry.
• Go abroad. Gain experience. Come home when you are ready.

9. A GLOBAL IRISH TALENT NETWORK

• Build a permanent international network connecting Irish professionals overseas with opportunities in Ireland.
• Promote Irish employment, investment, research partnerships, entrepreneurship, professional networks and both short-term and permanent return opportunities.
• Maintain the relationship with our diaspora rather than only contacting people when Ireland needs skills.

10. A NATIONAL TARGET

• Government should publish an annual Irish Return & Retention Report.
• Measure Irish citizens leaving Ireland, Irish citizens returning, net movement of Irish citizens, skilled returnees, young people retained in Ireland, regional distribution, employment outcomes and relevant housing and infrastructure pressures.
• What gets measured can be improved.

11. RETURN HOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVE

• Introduce a targeted, three-year Return Home Incentive for eligible Irish citizens returning after a defined period living and working abroad.
• Consider reduced income tax, enhanced tax credits and/or reduced USC during the initial return period, subject to independent costing.
• Create a Return Home Accommodation Grant to help with initial rental, temporary accommodation or relocation expenses.
• Provide practical support for relocation, professional registration and recognition of overseas qualifications.
• Offer enhanced incentives for returnees entering identified skills-shortage occupations or creating businesses and employment.

12. A TARGETED — NOT OPEN-ENDED — SCHEME

• Eligibility could require Irish citizenship or qualifying Irish-born status and a minimum period living and working abroad.
• Returnees should take up employment, establish a business or enter another qualifying productive activity in Ireland.
• Benefits should be linked to remaining in Ireland for a defined minimum period and complying with normal tax and legal requirements.
• The scheme should be time-limited, independently costed and reviewed annually.

13. BRINGING PEOPLE HOME SHOULD CREATE VALUE

• The objective is to make returning home worthwhile while ensuring the Exchequer receives a measurable economic return.
• Government should publish the cost of incentives alongside the number returning, employment created, tax generated, skills shortages filled, businesses created and regional impact.

OUR PRINCIPLE

“If you have gone abroad to build your future, Ireland should make it easier — and worthwhile — to come home.”

KEEP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE • BRING OUR SKILLS HOME • CREATE OPPORTUNITY AT HOME

POLICY NOTE: Specific tax rates, grants, eligibility rules and targets should be independently costed and assessed for compatibility with Irish, EU and international law before implementation.