IMMIGRANTS IN IRELANDIMMIGRANTS IN IRELAND

-JOSE-JOSE-MARA-MARA-ESPERANZA-ESPERANZA-BEATA-BEATA-MAYTE-MAYTE-MARIA DEL MAR-MARIA DEL MAR

Ireland has changed from the country of Ireland has changed from the country of migrants migrants

into the country of immigrants from all into the country of immigrants from all over the world.over the world.

INDEXINDEX

• How many nationalities are there in Limerick?How many nationalities are there in Limerick?• What is the experience of immigrants in What is the experience of immigrants in

Ireland?Ireland?• How much help do they get?How much help do they get?• Are immigrants satisfied with living in Ireland?Are immigrants satisfied with living in Ireland?• What does the Irish educational system offer What does the Irish educational system offer

to them?to them?• What languages do they learn?What languages do they learn?• What are their What are their expectations for themselves expectations for themselves

and their children? and their children?

1.How many nationalities are 1.How many nationalities are there in Limerick?there in Limerick?

Poland

England

Latvia

Lithuania

China

Pakistan

Slovakia

Germany

France

Spain

Others

USA

Nigeria

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000OthersPolandEnglandLatviaLithuaniaNigeriaUSAChinaPakistanSlovakiaGermanyFranceSpain

1.Where do you come from?1.Where do you come from?2.How long have you been living in Ireland?2.How long have you been living in Ireland?3.Why have you chosen Ireland to come?3.Why have you chosen Ireland to come?4.What difficulties have you met living in 4.What difficulties have you met living in

Ireland? Ireland? 5.How do you socialize with local people?5.How do you socialize with local people?6.Do you feel confident in Ireland?6.Do you feel confident in Ireland?7.How long do you expect to stay in Ireland?7.How long do you expect to stay in Ireland?8.Do you think you will return to your native 8.Do you think you will return to your native

country?country?

Our survey questions to immigrants

Most of our respondents were Most of our respondents were PolishPolish immigrants who had immigrants who had been living in Ireland for 2-4 been living in Ireland for 2-4 years. They chose Ireland years. They chose Ireland because their relatives or because their relatives or friends had already been there. friends had already been there. They said they were rather They said they were rather satisfied with living and working satisfied with living and working in Ireland. Most of them would in Ireland. Most of them would like to return to Poland in a few like to return to Poland in a few years.years.

Other immigrants (especially the Other immigrants (especially the ones who come from ones who come from non non European countriesEuropean countries) usually did ) usually did not consider going back to their not consider going back to their own countries. They had not own countries. They had not had any special expectations had any special expectations before coming to Ireland. They before coming to Ireland. They are happy here just because are happy here just because they are living in Europe.they are living in Europe.

Our survey questions to Irish Our survey questions to Irish People.People.

1.1. What is your attitude What is your attitude towards immigration?towards immigration?

2.2. How do you feel about How do you feel about immigrants nowadays immigrants nowadays in the context of in the context of recession?recession?

3.3. Would you like Would you like immigrants to go back immigrants to go back to their countries?to their countries?

Irish people’s Irish people’s attitudeattitude towards immigrants is towards immigrants is positive in general. However, there are positive in general. However, there are differencesdifferences between young and older between young and older people. The latter ones find problems with people. The latter ones find problems with immigration.immigration.

Consequently, if their attitude is positive, Consequently, if their attitude is positive,

people don’t really care if immigrants want people don’t really care if immigrants want to stay in or to leave Ireland in the context to stay in or to leave Ireland in the context of recession.of recession.

One Irish young woman said: One Irish young woman said: ‘I don’t mind ‘I don’t mind immigrants in Ireland, at least they make immigrants in Ireland, at least they make the Irish less lazy’.the Irish less lazy’.

2. What is the experience of 2. What is the experience of immigrants in Ireland?immigrants in Ireland?

.According to the article about .According to the article about Polish workers in Ireland in Polish workers in Ireland in ‘Labor Studies Journal’ and ‘Labor Studies Journal’ and also to our own survey also to our own survey carried out in Limerick:carried out in Limerick:

• The experience of working, The experience of working, accommodation facilities accommodation facilities and health care service in and health care service in Ireland is generally quite Ireland is generally quite positive. positive.

• The immigrants (usually The immigrants (usually young ones) whose English young ones) whose English language skills are good language skills are good feel more confident in feel more confident in Ireland and they socialize Ireland and they socialize with local community easily.with local community easily.

3. How much help do they 3. How much help do they get?get?

According to our interview According to our interview with the representative of with the representative of Doras LuimniDoras Luimni organisation organisation immigrants are offered:immigrants are offered:

- Classes (of English, Classes (of English, computer, literacy etc.)computer, literacy etc.)

- Sessions on understanding Sessions on understanding of Cultural Diversityof Cultural Diversity

- Help in finding Help in finding accommodation.accommodation.

- Development groups.Development groups.- Parent and Toddler Group Parent and Toddler Group

FacilitiesFacilities- Free Legal Advice.Free Legal Advice.

4. Are immigrants satisfied 4. Are immigrants satisfied with living in Ireland?with living in Ireland?

Most answers in our survey were: Most answers in our survey were: Yes, very muchYes, very much. . YoungYoung immigrants are satisfied with immigrants are satisfied with their life in Ireland. They have their life in Ireland. They have less problems with the less problems with the language and they quickly language and they quickly socialize with the local people. socialize with the local people. OlderOlder new immigrants (aged new immigrants (aged about 50) are more about 50) are more disappointed with their life as disappointed with their life as they have problems with they have problems with communication in English communication in English which results in worse jobs or which results in worse jobs or losing jobs in the time of losing jobs in the time of recession.recession.

5. What does the Irish 5. What does the Irish educational system offer to educational system offer to

them?them?Most immigrant families Most immigrant families

with children are with children are satisfied satisfied with the Irish education with the Irish education systemsystem and with the and with the possibility to attend possibility to attend theirtheir own communities schoolsown communities schools at weekends. (e.g. Polish at weekends. (e.g. Polish schools are offered to schools are offered to Polish people) Polish people)

6. What languages do they 6. What languages do they learn?learn?

• Immigrants learn Immigrants learn EnglishEnglish basically. basically.

• IrishIrish language is language is compulsory if the compulsory if the child was under child was under eleven when eleven when he/she moved to he/she moved to Ireland.Ireland.

7. What are they 7. What are they expectations expectations for themselves and their for themselves and their

children?children? The reasons of immigration The reasons of immigration

are basically:are basically:– PoliticalPolitical: looking for asylum: looking for asylum

• They want to stay in Ireland They want to stay in Ireland for a long time.for a long time.

• They don’t want to come back They don’t want to come back to their own countries.to their own countries.

– EconomicalEconomical: looking for : looking for better standards of living better standards of living • Some of them want to stay Some of them want to stay

here for a long time.here for a long time.• Some others want to return to Some others want to return to

their countries in 3 or 5 years.their countries in 3 or 5 years.

Thanks to:Thanks to:

• JedJed

• James (Doras James (Doras Luimmi)Luimmi)

• Different Polish, Different Polish, Irish and other Irish and other nationalities nationalities peoplepeople

ReferenceReference

• Emma Hehir. Local News. Emma Hehir. Local News. Limerick you’re a Limerick you’re a lady, say Polish community.lady, say Polish community. 07.04.2009. 07.04.2009.

• Thomas Turner, Daryl D’Art, Christine Cross. Thomas Turner, Daryl D’Art, Christine Cross. Polish Workers in Ireland. A Contented Polish Workers in Ireland. A Contented Proletariat?Proletariat? University of Limerick. 2008. University of Limerick. 2008.

• Doras Luimmi. Doras Luimmi. Newsletter Volume II, Issue I.Newsletter Volume II, Issue I. May, 2009.May, 2009.