This is almost four times the EU average of 4% and over twice the mobility rates of our neighbours in the UK, where 7% emigrated. It is also far ahead of the rate in Poland (1%) and Latvia (2%), according to the survey by the Dublin-based European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and working conditions.

And in an even more surprising finding, given Ireland's booming employment market, over half (54%) of those Irish who migrated said it was to change job . . . well ahead of the EU average of 36%. Equally surprising, given the high cost of housing in Ireland, is that only 4% of Irish people said they moved to avail of better housing. The average EU figure is 9%.

Far more of our European neighbours move for personal relationship reasons. While 14% of EU citizens move country to 'follow their partner', just 10% of the Irish are amorously motivated. And while a substantial 16% of EU citizens move to another country because of a break-up, 11% of Irish people gave this as a reason for emigrating.

Almost one in 10, or 9%, of Irish people make the big move to 'live on their own', the survey showed. This is well ahead of the EU average of 6%.

The survey found that, in general, citizens of the original 15 EU nations moved to another EU country for lifestyle or fun reasons, while citizens from the 10 new member states were motivated by economic considerations.

Among the new member states, higher household income (59%) and better working conditions (57%) featured prominently, while among the original 15, 'discovering new environments' (64%) and meeting new people (39%) were the top reasons for making the move. A quarter of the 15 states surveyed mentioned 'better weather' as a serious reason to migrate.

The Irish show no sign of losing their wanderlust. One in 20 Irish people said they expected to move to another EU country over the next five years . . . again above the average of 3%.

The EU survey shows that migration from the new member states in Eastern Europe over the next five years is set to dramatically increase. More than 7% of Poles said they intended to move in the next five years . . . which would see almost three million predominantly young and well educated people on the move from just one country.