Minding The Gap Seminar 13th March 2013
Over View of Issues and case studies
Helen Lowry - MRCI
Jesha Lou Villaver and Yuliya Klyukina - Migrant Education Access
project
Ireland today and the 1.5 generation
 Ireland as a diverse multicultural country
 17% of population born outside of Ireland (2011 Census)
 Ireland’s youth population diverse
 1 in 7 children migrant background
 estimated 22,681 children born outside the EU registered in Irish
secondary schools (2011, Dept of Education)
 Ireland at a particular point in our immigration (inwards migration) history
 15 years on from first significant experience of inwards migration
 Who are the 1.5 generation
 Children of Non EU migrants not born in Ireland or the EU but resident
in Ireland for a minimum of 5 years, have made Ireland home
 Went to secondary school in Ireland in some cases primary school
 Motivation - came to Ireland to reunite with parents and family
members
Understanding the problem
The Irish Immigration system
 Absence of coherent framework of immigration law
over the past decade
 In addition policies not constructed to deal with
needs and realities of child dependents joining non
EU migrant parents
 Registration at 16 – lack of status beforehand
 Residency stamps inappropriate and ineligible
 Lack of pathways to permanency and citizenship for
children of Non EU migrants
 Welcome developments by Department of Justice
and Equality but essentially interim measures
leaving some young people to fall between gaps
Understanding the problem
Progressing to third level education
 Interim and adhoc responses by third level
institutes over past decade have become policy e.g.
‘EU fees’
 ‘EU fees’ whilst less than international student fees
still amount to on average €7000 for a typical 3 year
degree in an Irish university
 Lack of access to financial assistance primarily due
to nationality criteria for free fees initiative and
higher education grants
 Inability to reverse fee status upon securing
citizenship mid third level education
Jesha Lou & Yuliya’s story
Impact on young people and their
families
• Stress, anxiety and worry
• Financial pressure, debt, disposable income
drained, at greater risk of poverty
• Young people not taking up their CAO offer to
save money for fees and/or wait until
naturalised
• Going to collage not an option – a lost
generation?
• Making difficult choices between siblings,
courses, returning to home country
Numbers effected
• A lack of clear data but not as many as you would
think
– Faster naturalisation procedures
– Introduction of new measures to facilitate
naturalisation process for children dependents in
• 2,192 Non EEA between the ages of 16 and 18
currently registered with the GNIB (PQ 2013)
• = approximately 730 students per year of the
leaving cert cycle
• Many will secure citizenship, not all will
choose to go to third level education
Cost/benefit argument
Cost to the state
Benefits
• Short term cost
• Unemployment rates
for 3rd level graduate
lower by over 50%
• 3rd level graduates earn
more = higher wages =
higher consumer
spending power =
higher tax contribution
= better for the
economy
12,690 invested by state
per student
X 613 (84% entry rate)
_________________
= Approx €7 million
Rationale for Minding the Gap
• Short term cost to the Department of Education will
save the state a fortune in the longer term i.e. cant
afford not to do something
• Numbers impacted can be dealt with prior to
forthcoming Immigration Bill
• Investment in Ireland’s future
– Knowledge economy subjects
– Bright, ambitious young people and their contribution
– Particular insights and experiences the 1.5 generation
bring (dual identities, intercultural understanding)
• Equality, social inclusion, social cohesion arguments
– setting the standards for future generations