INVESTMENT IN integration must continue if we are to avoid ghettos developing in parts of Dublin city, according to non-governmental organisations that promote integration between communities.
Fidèle Mutwarasibo, integration manager with the Immigrant Council, said areas of Dublin city centre at present had “clusters” of migrant groups living there.
“The danger would be if those clusters eventually became ghettos,” he said.
Immigrants were living in these areas due a number of factors including the availability of rental properties at affordable prices, proximity to services and a lack of transport costs, he added.
Experience in other countries had shown people lived in the city centre temporarily before moving out to the periphery as they settled into their new country.
However, Mr Mutwarasibo said continued Government investment in integration was needed. “I wouldn’t like to see a situation where we have parallel communities, as experienced in some parts of England.
“I think what we’re seeing is a call to action. What do we need to do to ensure that those areas don’t become pockets of disadvantage?
“What do we do to establish good relationships between those of migrant backgrounds and locals who live in areas which are, unfortunately, disadvantaged established communities?
“What do we do to ensure that there is not a ‘white flight’?” Mr Mutwarasibo asked.
“We have to invest in integration, because so far our model has been based on economic integration – let them find jobs and they will integrate. But those jobs are not there now.
“If we act it should not be a problem, but if we don’t act it could be a problem. It’s not about ‘us and them’, it’s about ‘us plus them’,” Mr Mutwarasibo said.
Chief executive of the Integration Centre Killian Forde said while there was a clustering of migrants in the city centre, “to date we have not seen that clustering taking on a national, racial or religious pattern”.
“This spread is quite unusual in a European context and perhaps only reflects the fact that our migrant population is recent and in a sense still getting settled,” he continued.
“The Government needs to keep an eye on this as it would be regrettable if mono-ethnic areas were to become established in Dublin,” he said.
“Clustering, particularly the pattern of it in Dublin, can lead to a lack of belonging and community cohesion,” he added.
Mr Forde said the centre was concerned at the “light touch approach” the Government had taken in regards to the issue of integration.
“While we don’t believe that it is the Government’s job to direct people where to live and with whom, they need to recognise that our migrants are here to stay, and policies need to be developed to integrate them.
“Government needs to acknowledge the reality and be far more proactive. If we get this right we can be an example to the world; if we get it wrong it will cost billions to fix.”