County Kildare Integration Strategy 2014 – 2019 COUNTY KILDARE INTEGRATION STRATEGY 2014-2019 County Kildare Integration Strategy 2014-2019 ForewordForeword On behalf of County Kildare LEADER Partnership I would like to thank all of the individuals and groups who have contributed to the development of an Integration Strategy for County Kildare. This timely piece of work profiles the diversity that is alive in our county as a result of the significant growth in our <<<< To be written by CKLP or KCC and inserted later....>>>> population and the numbers of individuals and families who are now very much part of the fabric of our society. The feedback provided throughout the consultative process highlights that Kildare is a welcoming county with good amenities and opportunities to socialise and respect for diversity and culture. The preparation of the Strategy has also highlighted issues of social exclusion in relation to language barriers, poverty and racism and discrimination. Throughout the planning process the impact of direct provision on many individuals and families has also been noted. In moving forward over the next five years County Kildare LEADER Partnership is committed to working with Kildare County Council to achieve the implementation of the actions proposed. The range of organisations tasked with leading out the implementation process includes statutory agencies, public bodies and community / voluntary organisations. Based on the successful collaboration that has been achieved in the past in working with programme refugees and the commitment shown by all organisations to the planning process so far I look forward to further progress over the next five years in recognising diversity through integration in County Kildare. I would like to pay a special word of thanks to the individuals and groups who have participated on the steering group which brought this strategy to fruition, to the Integration Centre and Seamus O’Leary for their expertise in facilitating the preparation of the strategy and finally thanks to the staff of Kildare County Council and our own Company for their ongoing support. ___________________________ Christopher J. Byrne Chairperson County Kildare LEADER Partnership i County Kildare Integration Strategy 2014-2019 Acknowledgements This process to develop a long-term integration strategy for Co Kildare would not have been possible without the involvement of a wide range of people and organisations. First and foremost, we would like to thank each and every participant who attended the public planning meetings between March and June 2014, because without your interest there would be no integration strategy. It is heartening to note the wide range of communities and organisations represented in these public meetings, which bodes well for the creation of a more integrated society at local level in Co Kildare. We would also like to thank the Working Group members (each of whom is listed in Appendix 1) for your oversight and support throughout, especially during the final analysis and review stages. Additional logistical support provided by Eliska Schneider (CKLP) and Mary Hennessy (CKLP) and Sinead Fitzpatrick (KCC) was also invaluable. A word of thanks is also due to the many venues that hosted the public planning sessions and/or Working Group meetings. We would also like to acknowledge the work of staff at The Integration Centre, especially Séamus O’Leary and Péter Slovak for coordinating the planning process and drafting the final strategy document. A final word of thanks goes to each agency who agreed to lead one or more of the actions, in particular the voluntary and ethnic minority-led groups. Your continued interest and support, and indeed the support of some additional agencies who may get involved at later stages, is critical to ensuring that the actions proposed and agreed through this process will actually be implemented. ii County Kildare Integration Strategy 2014-2019 Table of Contents Foreword ...................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ iii Acronyms ..................................................................................................................................... v Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................................ vii Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Demographic Changes and Local Responses ...................................................................................................... 2 Development of Integration Strategies in Ireland .............................................................................................. 3 Reference to EU Integration Framework ............................................................................................................ 3 Engagement of TIC and Working Group in Co Kildare ........................................................................................ 4 Chapter 2: Integration Policy Context ............................................................................................ 5 EU Integration Policies and Frameworks ............................................................................................................ 6 National Policies and Reports ............................................................................................................................. 8 Local Integration Strategies and ARDS ............................................................................................................. 12 Chapter 3: Statistical Profiles of Ethnic Minorities ....................................................................... 13 Brief Comparison of National and Co Kildare Statistics .................................................................................... 14 National Profile of Population with Migrant Roots .......................................................................................... 16 National Statistics on Main Areas of Integration .............................................................................................. 20 Kildare Profile of Population with Migrant Roots ............................................................................................. 27 Kildare Statistics on Main Areas of Integration ................................................................................................ 33 Chapter 4: Methodology of Participatory Planning Process .......................................................... 40 1. Background Preparation ............................................................................................................................ 41 2. Integration Planning Process: Phase-1 ...................................................................................................... 42 3. Preliminary Analysis of Findings ................................................................................................................ 46 4. Integration Planning Process: Phase-2 ...................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 5: Key Findings in Co Kildare .......................................................................................... 50 Summary Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 51 Theme 1: Education and Employment ............................................................................................................. 54 Theme 2: Social Inclusion ................................................................................................................................. 56 Theme 3: Active Participation ........................................................................................................................... 61 iii County Kildare Integration Strategy 2014-2019 Theme 4: Recognition of Diversity .................................................................................................................... 63 Rating of Key Challenges by Participants .......................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 6: Action Plan for October 2014 to September 2019 ....................................................... 70 Overview of Action Plan ................................................................................................................................... 71 Theme 1: Education and Employment ............................................................................................................. 72 Theme 2: Social Inclusion ................................................................................................................................. 73 Theme 3: Active Participation ........................................................................................................................... 76 Theme 4: Recognition