The number of immigrants coming to Ireland is at its highest level on record, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today.
A total of 47,500 people moved or returned to the country in the year to April. The number emigrating from the country dropped to 18,800 over the same period, leaving net immigration at 28,700.
The largest group of immigrants is returning Irish people, who copmrise 38 per cent. That figure is down from the previous high among this group of 55 per cent in 1999.
The number of immigrants coming from outside the EU and the United States was up to 35 per cent from 26 per cent the previous year. Britons made up 11 per cent of immigrants compared with 13 per cent for the rest of the EU.
The CSO said births exceeded deaths by 29,300, which is the highest natural increase in the population since 1984.
Ireland's population rose to 3,917,336 by April 2002, which is the highest level since 1871.
Over a third of emigrants left for countries other than the United States or in the EU.