It is seven years since we last looked at the impact of immigration in Ireland. A lot has changed in the meantime, and this study - presented at the National Integration Conference & Debate in St Patrick's College on 30th April 2015 - paints a picture of change and continuity.

1. 1Integration in Ireland
Attitudes to Integration in Ireland
2008 to 2015
April 2015
© Amárach Research

2. 2Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Note on Methodology
Amárach Research conducted an online survey of a nationally
representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 18+ in the Republic
of Ireland in September 2008 & again in April 2015.
The survey was about their opinions on Ireland’s experience of
immigration and the integration of immigrants into Irish society.
Some of the survey participants were themselves foreign
nationals living in Ireland, but they represent too small a sub-
sample in this survey to separate out for analysis purposes.
The following charts show the main findings from the surveys
and key trends in the past seven years.

3. Integration in Ireland
That was then,
this is now ...

4. 4Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
On Balance
54%
33%
13%
41%
37%
22%
Good Bad Little Difference
2008 2015
Q. All things considered, do you think that immigration has
been on balance good for Ireland, bad for Ireland or has
made little difference to Ireland?

5. Integration in Ireland
More diverse Ireland 57%
Boosts the economy 19%
Diversity in workforce 8%
Immigrants have good
skills/work attitude
7%
I am an immigrant 4%
Better life for immigrants 3%
Competition for young
Irish job seekers
35%
No jobs for the Irish
people
23%
Abuse the social
welfare system
19%
Illegal immigration 12%
Cost to taxpayer 10%
A Good Thing A Bad Thing

6. 6Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Impact of Immigration - Education
35%
42%
23%
43%
40%
17%
Not at all worried A little worried Extremely worried
2008 2015
Q. To what extent do you worry about the impact of
immigration on our education services?

7. 7Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Impact of Immigration - Health
28%
39%
33%
35%
37%
28%
Not at all worried A little worried Extremely worried
2008 2015
Q. To what extent do you worry about the impact of
immigration on our health services?

8. 8Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Restrictions
66%
7%
27%
53%
17%
30%
Made more
restrictive
Made less
restrictive
Left as is
2008 2015
Q. Given the outlook for the economy, do you think
immigration policy should be:

9. 9Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Skilled Immigrants
45%
36%
19%
Yes No Don’t know
Q. Do you think the Government should provide fast track,
flexible work visas for highly skilled people from outside the
EU who want to migrate to Ireland?

10. Integration in Ireland
From immigration
to integration…

11. 11Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Degrees of Integration
4%
61%
22%
10%
3%
9%
54%
24%
7% 6%
Almost
completely
integrated
A little
integrated,
will go
further
A little
integrated,
won’t go
further
Hardly
integrated
at all
Don’t
know
2008 2015
Q. How well do you feel that immigrants to Ireland have
integrated into Irish society?

12. 12Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Role of Government
30%
59%
11%
29%
59%
12%
Doing enough Doing too little Doing too much
2008 2015
Q. Thinking about the Government’s role in the integration of
immigrants, do you think that the Government is:

13. 13Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Integration League Table
Q. Thinking about the following immigrant, ethnic and religious groups, how
well integrated into Irish society is each group on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1
is not at all integrated and 10 is fully integrated? People from:
2015
Low
Integration
Medium
Integration
High
Integration
The UK 5% 23% 72%
US, Canada, Australia, NZ 6% 48% 45%
Western Europe (France, Italy etc) 7% 50% 43%
Central & Eastern Europe 12% 59% 29%
China, Philippines, East Asia 18% 63% 19%
Brazil, Mexico, South America 18% 68% 14%
India & Pakistan 24% 62% 14%
Nigeria, South Africa, other Africa 33% 54% 13%
Traveller community 38% 47% 15%
Muslim community 39% 51% 11%

14. 14Integration in Ireland
30%
54%
16%
Yes No Not sure
Q. Have the recent attacks in Paris
changed your opinion about immigration?*
* Asked in January 2015
After Paris

15. Integration in Ireland
Taking the
initiative…

16. 16Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Barriers to Integration
58%
17%
13%
7% 5%
Language skills Racial
discrimination
Qualifications Lack of
experience
Minimum wage
levels
Q. What do you think is the main barrier for immigrants
accessing employment in Ireland?

17. 17Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
Role of Third Level
57%
21% 22%
Yes No Don’t know
Q. Do you think that giving more access to third-level
education to immigrants would enable them contribute
positively in Ireland?

18. 18Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
The Educational System
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the
following statements, on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is strongly
disagree and 5 strongly agree?
% Agree
2015
With regards to diversity, the pace of change in relation to primary school types
is too slow
33%
Schools need to change (ie: curriculum, admissions policy, management type)
in order to meet the needs of a more culturally diverse society
37%
All schools in my area equally accommodate children from culturally diverse
backgrounds
42%
The education system has adapted well to the increase in ethnic and cultural
diversity
31%
When classrooms are culturally diverse the overall standard of education for
each child, in comparison with mono cultural classrooms is better
35%
The ethnic mix of a school’s population is a factor when parents choose a
school for their children
42%

19. 19Integration in IrelandIntegration in Ireland
In Conclusion
The ‘honeymoon’ is over in relation to the Irish experience of
immigration, but it has given way to consensus rather than conflict.
The process of integration was at an early stage back in 2008 and it
still is for several key groups in 2015.
Concerns about the impact of immigration on health and educational
services have abated somewhat – despite the greater pressure on
services after the recession.
Looking to the future, the majority of people want immigration policy to
be more restrictive, though they show greater flexibility in relation to
skills.
Education does and will play a key role in closing the ‘integration gap’.

20. Integration in Ireland
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