A new online information portal has been launched for Irish emigrants seeking to move back home.

'Returning to Ireland' was created by the Citizens Information Board, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

It contains information on the practicalities involved in returning to Ireland.

It provides information on Irish public services, aimed specifically at people returning to live in Ireland.

This includes issues such as how the Irish taxation system works, how to get an Irish driving licence or get a passport for a child born abroad.

Minister of State for the Diaspora, Ciarán Cannon, said: "I am keenly aware that returning to Ireland from abroad can be a challenging experience.

"This is why the Government is committed to making this process as smooth as possible by ensuring that, as a first step, people thinking about making the move have access to comprehensive, detailed and accurate information."

Passengers' hand luggage is deposited in plastic tubs at Frankfurt Airport's passenger screening area | Image: Arne Dedert/DPA/PA Images

The Citizens Information Board supports information, advice, advocacy as well as money advice and budgeting services on a wide range of public and social services.

Its chief executive Angela Black added: "Last year citizensinformation.ie recorded more than 13 million users and 47 million page views.

"This new Returning to Ireland category will be a very useful resource for all Irish citizens living abroad and thinking about coming home, whatever their stage in life."

The decision by the Department of Foreign Affairs to support the creation of an online information service for returning Irish emigrants is from a key recommendation of the 'Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants'.

The study was commissioned by the department and published in February last year, which recommended the creation of a dedicated online information service focused on returning emigrants.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), 28,400 Irish nationals returned to live in Ireland in the year to April 2018.

This saw more Irish people returning than emigrating for the first time since 2009.

The Returning to Ireland content can be found here