Home
| Towards Integration A City Perspective |
|
Immigration is relatively recent phenomenon in the Irish experience more traditionally associated with emigration. With 4m population and an immigrant population of over 10% the management of immigration has been the primary national concern. Immigration has been a key factor of Ireland’s exceptional economic growth over the last 10 years and has been driven by a relatively liberal labour market policy. Approximately 16 per cent of the workforce was comprised of non-Irish nationals in 2008 compared to 9 per cent of the work force in 2005. The economic success and growth that the city experienced would not have been possible without the contribution of migrant workers. It was anticipated that national population would continue to increase founded on the premise of continuing growth and the need for immigrant labour.
Since 1996, the population of the GDA has increased by over 18 per cent making it one of the fastest growing regions in the EU. The major growth in Dublin has occurred in the outskirts of the city region while the contribution to growth in the city is around 5%.
The current dramatic decline in the economy has meant a marginal return to net emigration once more. It is suggested that there will be an increase in outflow of population with ESRI forecast of 40,000 in 2010.However with continuing mobility of populations within a European and global context immigration is likely to remain a permanent part of our future experience. Cities in particular capital cities remain magnets for migration and Dublin is no different.
Dublin as the capital city and largest urban area in the state with population of city 500,000 within the Greater Dublin Region of 1.5m population has the highest ratio of immigrant population with over 15% from non Irish national background.
The socio-cultural profile of the city with over 100 nationalities has changed perceptively in past 10 years. The new diversity of the city population is reflected in ethnic business, media, food, clubs, ethnic music and cultural expression which are now part of our city mix. The changing physical fabric of areas of the city with emerging markets, restaurants, shops and places of worship serving immigrant needs are all manifestations of change. In many ways we have openly embraced this new diversity and the challenge is managing this new diversity as an asset for the city.
According to the CSO 2006 there were 4,495 Russian nationals in Ireland and while Dublin City was the most popular location (12 per cent) they were generally well spread throughout the country.
National Government Policy
Legislation on Immigration Residence and Protection Bill which will consolidate policy on immigration management and control is still currently before the Dail. The appointment of a
Minister for State with responsibility for Integration in 2007 recognised the need to have a coordinated national policy on integration. Consistent with the European principles on integration government sees integration as two way process of mutual adaptation between the immigrant and the host society. The policy statement Migration Nation outlined key principles for promoting integration policy
Key Principles
Local authorities have been identified as the lead agency for development of integration at the local level. In this regard the services provided by local authorities play a major part in mainstreaming integration in service provision.
City Governance
As the municipal authority with 52 elected members the City Council has limited governance role when compared to European city administrations. It does not have responsibility for education, health, and policing all of which are national government departments.
However it does have responsibility for -:
Planning & Economic Development
Housing
Infrastructure
Environment
Arts Culture Recreation
Social Cohesion & Community Development
While management of immigration is government responsibility for integration is a matter which falls on the city and its network of agencies.
Partnership working therefore is vital role of the City Council in influencing, engaging and cooperating with state and other actors for the benefit of the city.
City Response to Integration
The City Council has responded to this issue with the introduction of a policy statement “Towards Integration A City Framework” in 2008 www.dublin.ie/integration which set out the starting point for building the process of integration at city level through a whole city approach.
The development of the policy was guided by a Steering Group representing state, local government, city agencies, the NGO sector and migrant communities.
It set out an agreed vision and principles.
It outlined the context of migration and settlement patterns in the city for the first time.
It sets a starting point to encourage all the partners/stakeholders at city level in particular the public service providers, to take ownership of integration, to review and adapt their organisation and business processes to ensure accessibility to information and services takes account of the new reality and diversity of city population.
It consolidated research and information and draws on evolving national policy, European principles on integration and the experience of cities with a migration history.
It identified key issues on information, services and barriers to progress.
Implementation of the framework is to be supported in particular through-:
A dedicated Office for Integration (OFI) which has been established within the City Council to promote, develop and co-ordinate integration policy.
A Declaration on Integration by leaders of state and city organisations signed off in City Hall on 29th May 2008 establishing a pact on integration at city level.
A Charter of Commitment by Dublin City Council as the lead agency to be the key driver for integration in partnership with all stakeholders national, local, state and non governmental and the social partners.
This commitment includes :-
Initiating dialogue and co-operation at city and local level with migrant networks and NGOs.
Building supports and capacity of ethnic led organisations to assist full participation in economic, social, cultural and political life of the city.
Monitoring and development of indicators on integration at city level.
Pro-active approach
Office for Integration (OFI)
Lead role / profile of City Council on integration policy acknowledged
Creating strategic alliances and synergies with networks and stakeholders
Initiating programmes maximising funding allocations
Developing sharing knowledge and competence
Communicating issues integration/immigration
At city level the City Council has taken a pro-active approach to engaging with new communities, supporting development of social interaction through cultural festivals and, events, creating awareness and facilitating intercultural dialogue.
Through the Office for Integration (OFI) it has established a bridge of connection and engagement with immigrant communities within the city. It has achieved this through networking, and building relationships with non governmental organizations, and migrant interest groups and national embassies.
Positive co-operation with migrant networks has allowed for sharing of knowledge, expertise and communication on issues impacting on immigrant communities e.g. information deficits,
barriers, outreach and support services, targeting vulnerable groups and maximising available resources.
The City Council through direct funding provision has supported actions and measures promoting integration on the ground within communities which are consistent with the strategy framework.
In addition funding of 250,000 euro was allocated by Office Minister for Integration in 2008 /2009 to the City Council and similar sum has been allocated for 2009/2010 to support integration at city level. A sum of 160,000 euro has been allocated on open call basis to 40 organizations for proposals consistent with city strategy “Towards Integration” with a further 100,000 euro allocated to targeted initiatives led by OFI.
The City Council through OFI (Office for Integration) continues to develop its own organizational competence and knowledge through national and international networks of knowledge and experience on integration including CLIP (Cities for Integration), Open Cities Urbact programme, and European Coalition Cities against Racism network.
Through CLIP (Cities for Local Integration) it has recently completed research on intercultural intergroup relations at city level for first time which will provide a platform for further development. . A further research module on ethnic entrepreneurship is now being undertaken and a preliminary profile of ethnic entrepreneurship in the city has been completed and submitted to Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment.
Mainstreaming Integration
Mainstreaming is regarded as key to integration and through the framework strategy the stakeholders at city level have committed to a strong integration focus in strategic planning and service provision. There is evidence of progress in this regard with integration /intercultural policies implementation areas such as health, education, and policing and within community development sectors.
Integration is also informing policy development within the City Council as part of service provision in Housing, Community Development, Sport & Recreation, Economic Development & Planning, International Relations and Corporate Policy. The Central Library through its Open Learning Centre is a particularly good example of mainstreaming service delivery with high ratio of immigrants using the Tell Me More language training service.
A training programme on inclusion, integration and equality has been undertaken by OFI in key service areas. As part of Business Innovation week the Office for Integration led seminars on Sport & Integration and Ethnic entrepreneurship.
The intercultural dimension to St. Patrick’s Festival, events such the Chinese New Year Festival, Africa Day, Filipino National day and others now occupy fixed dates in the city events calendar. Chinese New Year Festival Programme made a particular impression this year promoting economic and cultural relations. The Russian Festival initiated in 2010 has a similar capacity for development.
To strengthen integration at local area level Community Development Officers in the 5 areas will now have the integration of immigrant communities as part of their community development brief.
Focus Themes / Actions 2010
· Intercultural dialogue
· Entrepreneurship
· Sports& Integration
· Inter Faith Forum
· Strategy Review
· Indicators on Integration
· Anti racism monitoring
· Digital Dialogue
Managing change
Our immigration experience has been concentrated within a very short time interval. Stable government founded on social and economic partnership, an open and highly competitive economy with full employment has enabled us to absorb this new influx heretofore. We have hardly adapted to the significant demographic change brought about by economic growth but must now face factors of economic decline.
In the downturn unemployment has risen sharply from 4.5% to 12.5% with corresponding increase in unemployment of immigrant labour which now constitutes 20% of the live register. Dublin’s cultural outlook towards migrants has generally been receptive with more acceptability and tolerance of different groups, while arguably there have been low levels of racism evident in the city. However increased social and economic pressures may lead to change in population sentiment
The current economic climate is creating a level of uncertainty for everybody. Integration will prove an even bigger challenge where competition for scarce resources will increase.
Integration is a long term process and city policy is to continue to build on progress to date, promoting a positive framework wherein, the active participation and contribution of the non Irish national population as citizens of the city, can be realized in the political, social, economic and cultural life of the city.
Gerry Folan
Office for Integration
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners
Registration
| Participants' registration |