By Florian Stenner
“People who come to Dublin want to stay in Dublin.” That was the message from Dublin Lord Mayor Andrew Montague at the launch of an integration report in the capital recently.
Statistics and conclusions from the ESRI’s Annual Monitoring Report on Integration 2011 were presented by researcher Dr Frances McGinnity, who focused on the topics of unemployment, education, social inclusion, active citizenship and sport among Ireland’s immigrants.
The experience of immigrant children in Irish schools was the special theme of this latest report, which highlighted problems among pupils from a non-English-speaking background in understanding their teachers and peers, and noted a higher motivation among immigrant children at school.
Dr McGinnity said: “Regarding education, the fact that nine-year-olds from non-English speaking backgrounds perform worse in English reading highlights the importance of English language support for them and their parents, to build on their positive attitudes and high parental aspirations.”
On the job front, total employment among non-Irish nationals fell by 40 per cent, compared to a 10 per cent drop among Irish nationals. In light of such discouraging numbers, the Lord Mayor said the Government must still advance their engagement in terms of integration.
In his speech, the Integration Centre CEO Killian Forde said that his body “has just a local influence – that’s why we should have a Minister of Integration.”
Forde also noted that The Integration Centre is increasing its contacts with Ireland’s political parties so that the topic of integration will play an important role in Irish politics in the future.
