ICI: International study shows Ireland's integration policies compare poorly

The recently published Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX III), which ranks the integration policies of 31 countries across Europe and North America, ranked Ireland poorly in the areas of migrants' access to family reunification, access to education and labour market mobility. In fact, Ireland was found to provide the least favourable family reunification policies in Europe and North America and ranked 28th out of the 31 countries in relation to labour market mobility. In all, the study looked at 148 policy indicators....
 
MIPEX III ranked Ireland among the least prepared of the 31 countries to help migrants with specific needs to do well in school. While all migrants can access compulsory education, those with specific needs do not receive the targeted supports provided by other countries. This is aggravated by cutbacks in the number of language support teachers. However, the study found Ireland compared well in terms of facilitating migrants' political integration by allowing migrants the right to vote in local elections. Ireland ranked third on the index behind Norway and Finland. The research found migrants are well represented on a statutory level with representatives from organisations such as the New Communities Partnership being represented on Strategic Policy Committees and other local government bodies.
 
Chief Executive Officer Denise Charlton said the MIPEX research shows Ireland has a long way to go in terms of facilitating integration. "While we have improved our ranking in the area of anti-discrimination policy, we continue to trail far behind other countries in the area of family reunification and labour market mobility. The family unit of Ireland's non-EU citizens is not respected in Ireland," Denise said.
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