Call for national body to help immigrants integrate

A national body is needed to ensure immigrants are better integrated into Irish society and don’t become unemployed or homeless, it was claimed today.

More than 250,000 migrant workers from EU accession countries have arrived in Ireland since May 2004, including about 150,000 Polish nationals.

However some have difficulties in finding jobs and accommodation and the Polish embassy estimated that 600 of its citizens are accessing services for homeless people.

The Trust social and health services agency today called for a national forum made up of statutory agencies and relevant ambassadors to help successfully integrate immigrants into the country.

Director Alice Leahy said: “Many people from the EU accession states have come to Ireland and found jobs and are making a welcome contribution to our economy.

“However, quite a number have also got into difficulties and even become homeless putting pressure on services that are inadequately geared to cope.

“This need not happen and we can do a great deal to prevent unnecessary suffering if all of the relevant services as well as the ambassadors from the relevant states get together and work out a plan with the vital and urgent support of the Government.”

Ms Leahy was speaking as the Lord Mayor of Dublin Vincent Jackson paid his first formal visit to Trust’s Dublin inner city centre offices today.

She added: “In many instances if people arrived better informed about conditions here with appropriate and often basic support they could avoid ending up on the street even temporarily.

“But we have to recognise that we need to take action in Ireland but also mobilise people in the accession states as well to ensure that their citizens are equipped to make a successful start in Ireland.

“This is also about protecting people’s rights and giving them the means to ensure they avoid what are often wholly preventable and painful problems when they arise.”