Address by Minister John Curran T.D., at the Launch of Limerick City and County Integration Plan, 2010- 2012

05 March 2010, Hunt Museum

 

 

I would like to start by thanking the Integration Working Group for the invitation to be here for the launch of the Limerick City and County Integration Plan.

 

As we are gathered here in the Hunt Museum, one cannot but be reminded of the rich cultural heritage of County Limerick. Its heritage has been shaped by its history and the creativity and diversity of its people. Immigration brings a new dimension to the character of Limerick - to its schools, workplaces and to local clubs. This should be seen as an opportunity to add to the skills base and the culture of the area. It should also be seen as vital that all newcomers reach their full potential, proactively contribute to local life and help to positively shape the future of the community.

 

On this basis, I wholeheartedly welcome the development of this City and County Integration Plan. It is clear from reading it that a lot of work has gone into its development. And I am very happy to say that my own Office provided some funding towards the costs of background research. My Office also provided funding towards the costs of the development of a website which will promote the availability of services and information. This website will be of benefit to both migrants and service providers.

 

This integration plan will proactively respond to the barriers which were identified in the research stage in this process with particular regard to accessing services and participating in the local community. Encouraging the provision of information in a number of languages will provide migrants with a greater awareness of opportunities which are open to them. Through the support of migrant forums, and inclusion of migrants in existing consultative bodies, a greater awareness of the needs of immigrants will be created amongst service providers.

 

Barriers to accessing services will also be reduced through intercultural training for frontline staff who will be more aware of the issues faced by migrants and the need for responsive services.

 

The plan recognises that integration is a shared responsibility. While many of the identified initiatives will promote interaction with the host population through intercultural and other events, it also identifies actions to encourage migrants to volunteer locally. It recognises that migrants and the host population have a shared responsibility to ensure that immigration is a positive experience for all. Certain prerequisites must be in place to do this and this plan provides the vision and strategy to achieve this. 

 

I welcome the focus on creating an awareness of existing services and resources. As there are limited funding opportunities at the present time, it is important to make effective use of resources which have already been developed and translated and to ensure that as wide an audience as possible is aware of their availability.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to remind stakeholders that my own Office is in the process of completing an Intercultural Education Strategy. I would hope that many of the recommendations of this Strategy will complement and inform the progression of identified actions in this Plan. This Strategy is currently being finalised and will be  launched shortly. It has taken account of international and national research and best practice and will help to ensure that there is an intercultural  learning environment for all educational sectors.

 

The importance of education and English language training is also emphasised in this integration plan. Host country language skills are key to integration and its importance has been recognised in this and in other local integration plans. I would like to point out that in spite of the economic downturn and a reduction in Government spending, in the order of 98 million Euro will be spent by this Government on language support in the 2009/2010 academic year. This will continue to make a vital contribution to migrants who do not have proficiency in the English language. I encourage initiatives which complement this through the provision of volunteer English language classes and I commend the work of the many organisations, including Doras Luimni who are involved in this at the present time.

 

I think that it is also very important that this Integration plan focuses on the specific issues of relevance to Limerick. Already, it is clear that local groups in the Limerick area have made a very worthwhile contribution to the integration agenda and have a good knowledge of the issues faced by migrants in the area. My Office has previously funded organisations working in the Limerick area which have been involved in some very worthwhile intercultural events and exhibitions which have brought the host community and migrants together.

 

My Office's policy Statement on Integration, Migration Nation: Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management recognises that it is at a local level that integration will ultimately succeed or fail. It is for this reason that my Office has funded local authorities, including Limerick County Council to encourage actions at this level.

 

I believe that local level bodies play an important role in terms of showing leadership at a local level, building linkages with local groups, planning and building cohesive communities, identifying problems and diffusing conflicts as they emerge.  Local bodies can more easily consult with local migrants and promote opportunities for capacity building. At a national level, it is important that Government provides policy direction and, where necessary, legislation and targeted funding. Both the local and the national have a vital and complementary role to play in integration.

 

In the development of an Integration plan, it is important to have the collective input of all relevant stakeholders to ensure its success. I would therefore like to pay tribute to the many different organisations who were involved in the Integration Working Group, including the statutory, community, non-governmental and faith-based sectors. Their support and dedication will ensure a broad buy-in for this strategy. The wide-ranging consultation through focus groups, service providers and migrant representative organisations ensured that different perspectives could be taken on board and a full picture could emerge of the key areas for action under this strategy.

 

The fact that so many different stakeholders were involved also reflects the fact that integration is a dynamic process which requires efforts by all. While I have no doubt that the development of the strategy presented a number of challenges, I believe that it is a very worthwhile investment as it develops a vision and a sense of shared ownership in the process.

 

In this the European Year for Combatting Poverty and Social Exclusion, I welcome the fact that these initiatives encourage interaction between communities and enable people from all backgrounds to participate in wider society and its institutions. The end result will contribute to the development of a Limerick which is comfortable with diversity and embraces this diversity

 

 

To conclude, I would like to wish you all well in the implementation and monitoring of this plan. It will build on much of the good work which has already taken place in the Limerick area.

 

Thank you for your attention