Migration in Ireland

Dr Mary GilmartinProfessor Rob Kitchin

NUI Maynooth

ESPON UK Network Workshop, 13 May 2009

Overview

• Migration to Ireland: recent trends• Researching migration• Future directions

Immigration to and emigration from Ireland, 1995-2008 (Source: CSO)

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000N

um

ber

of

peo

ple

Immigration

Emigration

Immigration 31200 39200 43900 44000 48800 52500 59100 66900 50600 50100 84500 107800109600 83800

Emigration 33,200 31,200 29,000 21,200 31,500 26,700 26,300 25,500 20,700 18,500 29,600 35,900 42,200 45,400

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Migrant groups in Ireland, April 2006

Nationality Number

UK 112,548

Polish 63,276

Lithuanian 24,628

Nigerian 16,300

Latvian 13,319

US 12,475

Chinese 11,161

German 10,289

Filipino 9,548

French 9,046

Population by place of birth (Source: Central Statistics Office)

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

1981 1986 1991 1996 2002 2006

Per

cen

tag

e o

f to

tal p

op

ula

tio

n

Other

US

Scotland

England and Wales

Northern Ireland

Researching migration

• Ad-hoc approach to research on migration– Civil society: often focuses on marginalised groups

and on specific needs– Policy makers: consultant-led, short-term– Academic: longer-term, but little co-ordination

• Lack of clarity in relation to governance– Junior Minister for Integration in three departments:

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Education and Science; Justice, Equality and Law Reform

– Yet, labour migration managed by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/

(Source: MCRI 2008:128)

Future directions

• Assumption that recent migration is temporary, but no evidence to support this

• Impacts of global economic recession:– Employment– Social welfare– Public services– Housing

• Second generation– Education– Language

• Need for a systematic approach to research on migration