FÁILTE ISTEACH, which involves older people teaching English to immigrants, would have been useful in continental Europe when the number of immigrants began to increase 20 or 30 years ago, businessman Denis O'Brien said yesterday as the project was extended nationwide.
"For me, Fáilte Isteach is the absolute model of the way we should tackle this opportunity," he said, "because Ireland is going to be a better place in 10 or 20 years for these new Irish people."
The initiative was established by Mary Nally of the Third Age Foundation in Summerhill, Co Meath, in 2006, after she learned that a woman was taking her child out of school to help her do the shopping because she could not speak English.
Older people decided to start offering immigrants weekly conversation classes in Summerhill, covering topics such as visiting the doctor or form-filling.
"On the first night, 13 potential pupils arrived and we were on our way," Ms Nally said.
The volunteers have since provided classes to 147 people from 19 countries as far flung as Uzbekistan and Algeria. A homework club also allows the students to bring their children with them.
The extension of the project across the State is being funded by Mr O'Brien.
The Iris O'Brien Foundation, named after his mother, is funding the employment of a development officer who will work with communities to set up Fáilte Isteach projects around the State.
A manual has also been produced, with the support of Age and Opportunity.
