Survey also reveals public feels Govt ‘not doing enough’ to promote integration.
IRELAND’S immigration policy must become more restrictive, while the Government isn’t doing enough to encourage the integration of the country’s existing immigrant populations – these are the major findings from an online survey on immigration released this week.
The survey, conducted by Amárach Research at the beginning of September, asked a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults in the Republic of Ireland their opinions on the country’s immigration phenomenon and the level of integration taking place.
Significant findings to emerge include:
66 per cent believe that immigration policy should be ‘made more restrictive’, given the outlook for the economy; and
59 per cent feel that the Government is ‘doing too little’ to integrate immigrants, while 70 per cent are not aware of any groups in their area (sporting, cultural, political, church, etc) actively promoting integration.
The survey also reveals that some 54 per cent of people believe immigration has been good for Ireland, with 33 per cent thinking the opposite (13 per cent say it has made little difference).
Young males from lower income backgrounds are more inclined to feel that immigration had been bad for Ireland, according to the study, with anxieties expressed over the undercutting of Irish workers and the dilution of Ireland’s culture.
However, it was females who are middle-aged, middle class and based in Munster who are most inclined to want tighter immigration controls. Nevertheless, the study showed that many people remain optimistic as to the potential for increased integration, with some 61 per cent feeling that immigrants are ‘a little integrated’ but that this ‘will go further’. Middle-aged higher income Dublin residents were more inclined to have this view.
Other interesting findings to emerge related to fears over the impact of immigration on health and education services, with 42 per cent of people ‘a little worried’ about the effect of recent immigration on education services, and 39 per cent sharing the same level of concern in relation to health services.
Opinion was divided over whether a future Taoiseach or President could be descended from recent immigrants, with 38 per cent saying ‘yes’, 33 per cent saying ‘no’, and 29 per cent stating that they don’t know.
The research was launched in Dublin at this week’s National Integration Debate, a Metro Éireann initiative, hosted by An Post in association with the Office of the Minister for Integration.
