RED-TAPE, JOBS and finding somewhere to live are the hardest parts of coming home according to a new survey.

The survey, from the Crosscare Migrant Project asked 400 Irish emigrants who have made the move back to Ireland in the last two years about their experiences.

Several expressed surprise at the unexpected emotional cost of returning to Ireland while others 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.

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.

Just over half of those who came home said that they plan to stay for good, but they outlined the biggest difficulties with coming home.

They were:

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 well being (loss of support networks, isolation, reverse-homesickness)

Sarah Owen, the Irish Abroad Networking Officer with Crosscare said of the report:

“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.”

The report, which is launched tomorrow at the Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin also advises returning emigrants to budget in advance and “do it for yourself”.

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