Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. On Thursday I met representatives of an Italian company that has formed a partnership with a medical devices company in Ireland which is able to employ people here. Owing to the nature of the research and innovation, opportunities have been provided for some people to come back home. Obviously, the services of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland are available to small and medium enterprises to increase their numbers also. As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Finance got rid of the double Irish concept in the last budget and, having closed the public consultation process, is now in the business of providing a knowledge development box that I hope will be of interest to companies from abroad in order that they can continue to invest here.

I would like to believe an increasing number of Irish citizens will want to come home, but the conditions have to be right for them in terms of their salaries, taxation and accommodation. These are necessary for everybody, including those at home and those who might want to come back.

I meant to say to the Deputy that not everybody returning to Ireland was returning for work. Many Irish people return to avail of the education system, particularly at third level. In March 2014 the then Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, announced that children of Irish emigrants who had spent five years in primary or post-primary school in Ireland would qualify for EU-level fees at Irish universities and third level institutions for undergraduate courses from 2014-15. This issue was brought to the attention of Members when I travelled to Brussels for committee or other meetings. The change has been made to facilitate those concerned.

As the economy begins to improve and companies create jobs, we need to set out the strategy and the picture for the coming years. They can be developed and strengthened in order that young people can have the option of coming back home, which they did not have in the past.

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