Segregation danger among migrant clusters

SOME migrant communities who “cluster” in certain areas are in danger of becoming segregated from their Irish neighbours, according to a new report.

The conclusion is among a number of findings in a study by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) into housing trends among migrant communities and has prompted calls for the Government and local authorities to build an “intercultural dimension” into housing and planning policy.

Part one of the research was carried out by the Centre for Housing Research and University College Dublin for the NCCRI, and both sections explore the recent trends surrounding integration and housing issues. The report highlights the poor standard of housing occupied by some migrants, mentioning properties in Dublin and Dundalk in particular. It also highlights the high concentration of migrants in the private rented sector and the lack of incentives to get those communities into other sectors, such as home ownership.

Part two of the report, written by the director of the NCCRI, Philip Watt, also claims “there is emerging evidence of hidden overcrowding, with some migrant communities needing to share dwellings to pay basic housing costs and meet childcare needs. This is particularly evident among a minority of households of people from eastern and central Europe and Asia”.

It also highlights what it terms “increased evidence of migrant/minority communities accessing homeless services”, although this is likely to happen only in times of personal crisis.

General problems that can arise between landlords and tenants also affect migrant communities, such as disputes over deposits.

The recommendations in the report include a call for the Government to crack down on racially motivated antisocial behaviour, with a specific focus on larger cities such as Dublin, where the vast majority of non-Irish nationals live. It states that unofficial figures for racially motivated criminal incidents this year predict it will match last year’s total of 180 cases.

Much of the data contained in the reports is based on detailed analysis of the last census, with NCCRI claiming the full impact of the economic downturn and ensuing recession on migrant communities has yet to be ascertained.