CSO figures show a return to net inward migration for the first time since 2009
The number of people coming in to Ireland has risen above the number of people leaving the country for the first time in seven years, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The CSO report that the number of immigrants to the State in the year to April 2016 stands at 79,300, a 15% rise from the figure of 69,300 in April last year.
Their figures also show a fall in emigration, with the number of people leaving the country falling from 80,900 in April 2015 to 76,200 in April 2016.
This has resulted in a return to net inward migration for Ireland of 3,100 for the first time since 2009.
More Irish people are leaving the country than returning, although at a much lower level than in the previous year, falling from 23,200 to 10,700.
The number of Irish people returning home went up from 12,100 to 21,100 in the year to April, an increase of more than 74%.
The CSO also reported that number of births between April 2015 and April 2016 was 65,200 while the number of deaths was 30,000, resulting in a natural increase of the population of 35,300.
The combined effect of natural increase and positive net migration resulted in an overall increase in the population of 38,400 bringing the population estimate to 4.67 million in April 2016.
