Déirdre de Búrca (Green Party)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss integration policy. This issue is very important for this country because of the speed and extent of the demographic changes in the past ten to 20 years. It is difficult to believe the extent of immigration in this country. It is estimated that up to 14% of the Irish population is made up of immigrants and non-nationals. It poses a significant challenge for the country. Based on Ireland's experience and the fact that many of our residents emigrated, leading to a large diaspora, we have no excuse for getting it wrong when the experience is reversed. We have primary experience of moving to other countries and being strangers and immigrants. We know how difficult it can be. While no perfect model of integration has been identified, Ireland is in a position to benefit from the experience of many countries.

Different models of integration have been experimented with, from the assimilation model attempted by France to the multicultural approach of Great Britain. It is fair to categorise Ireland's approach as intercultural and there is growing consensus that this is a more progressive and effective way of helping immigrants to integrate. An intercultural approach is where interaction, exchange and communication between cultures is encouraged and there is an egalitarian relationship between the host culture and the immigrant cultures.

I agree with those who have highlighted education as an important part of integration policy and an important mechanism to integrate children and young immigrants to the host culture. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, states that the battle for integration will be won or lost in the schools.

We have many problems that must be overcome if we are to help the children of immigrants to integrate properly. One of these is planning. Many immigrants live in suburbs of our capital city. We must ensure the way we plan does not lead to new schools catering specifically for the children of immigrants, creating educational ghettos. This would not be in the interests of educational planning or integration policy. We must be careful to gather statistics to inform our planning system so that we can respond with properly integrated schools, with a combination of new immigrant populations and our Irish population.

I am concerned at the models of education provided to the children of immigrants enrolling in our schools. When the Minister for Education and Science was in the House we spoke of the dominance of the faith-based model in Ireland. The Catholic Church runs 98% of State schools. While it has done a good job over many decades, we recognise it is time for a new, non-denominational model for children of other faith cultures. Educate Together is a positive model and some 20 applications have been made for new schools this year. This reflects the demand for a new model for non-denominational education catering for children of immigrants attending school in this country.

I support those who call for a greater emphasis on English language training for the children of immigrants attending our schools. In Australia, English language training is provided for between six and 12 months prior to a child attending a mainstream school. We should examine this model. It is difficult for children to integrate and assimilate if there are language barriers. Providing preliminary language training before school would make it easier for them.

Many positive steps have been taken in the development of an integration policy. I recognise the fact that we have appointed a Minister of State with responsibility for integration, a positive step. The increase in the budget from €5 million to €9 million is welcome, as is the establishment of a task force for integration. The national action plan on racism supports our policy on integration. The Department of Education and Science has provided guidelines on intercultural education, developed in response to the situation in our schools. The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism is another important structure to support and assist the implementation of an integration policy.

Some have criticised, however, how integration policy has focused on immigrants as economic units, taking a labour market approach to the challenge of immigration. Cultural assimilation is important and I am pleased to see funding dedicated to awareness raising exercises through the media, arts, sports and cultural spaces to promote positive images of other cultures and develop greater understanding among the public. We also need mechanisms to promote enhanced participation of immigrants in our society, politically in terms of policy making and at community level.

A number of concerns have been expressed by non-governmental organisations and groups representing immigrants. There have been repeated calls for an independent appeals mechanism for immigration decisions. There is a need for a transparent and independent appeals mechanism for immigration decisions. I hope the Government will commit to this and establish it soon. There is also concern about the payment to asylum seekers. When first introduced in 2000 it was €19.10 and has not changed in seven years. I was contacted by groups who expressed disappointment that this amount was not increased. We should consider this for the budget next year.