improving government service delivery to minority ethnic ... - NCCRI

improving
government
service
delivery
to minority
ethnic groups
Chapter 4: Ireland Research Findings 134_135
The engagement of local communities and minority ethnic groups
A multiplicity of local community organisations have emerged in this field. For example, Integrating Ireland, a
national umbrella grouping with more than 150 member organisations. Such organisations vary from loosely
organised community based groups to formally structured NGOs and engage in a range of activities including
information and service provision, legal advice and support, campaigning and advocacy, policy and research.
Apart from Integrating Ireland, four other substantial Dublin-based NGOs should be mentioned in particular
– the Refugee Information Service, the Irish Refugee Council, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and the
Immigrant Council of Ireland. A number of prominent NGOs are based outside the capital, such as Nasc
(Cork), Doras Luimní (Limerick) and Galway Refugee Support Group.
These organisations face significant challenges in terms of capacity building, role and funding. Although the
growing involvement of private foundations has eased the financial situation of some of the largest, there is little
Government funding to date for NGOs working in this field in Ireland. Much of the cooperation which has been
achieved with statutory agencies and Government Departments, where it has been achieved, has been informal
and ad hoc in nature. There is not, as yet, a recognised ‘policy community’ in this field, although much progress
has been made.
In terms of public engagement, migrant and ethnic led organisations face particular difficulties. In general,
they experience problems of capacity, funding and recognition which place them at a distinct disadvantage
compared to indigenously led NGOs.
Case Example 24 – Engagement
Refugee Information Service/Citizens Information Centres
An interesting example of public engagement between the statutory and non-statutory sector has been the
relationship established between the Refugee Information Service, an NGO, and the Citizens’ Information
Centres, operated by Comhairle under the aegis of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The RIS has
developed an independent and confidential service that refugees and asylum-seekers trust.
Consequently the ethos of the RIS is:
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inclusive: involving refugees and asylum-seekers in the management and delivery of the service;
co-operative: working with and giving assistance to community groups (and other organisations working
with refugees and asylum-seekers);
anti-racist: countering racism by the dissemination of accurate information on the rights and entitlements of
refugees and asylum-seekers in Ireland.
Migrant workers: requiring specific attention?
It will be noted that many of the specific initiatives in the area of appropriate services for minority ethnic groups
in Ireland have tended to target the asylum seeking and refugee communities. However, their numbers are
modest compared to migrant workers and their families in Ireland, especially since the accession of the new
EU10 in May 2004. While the employment sector has been quick to respond to some of their needs, notably
through the provision of multilingual information, much remains to be done in developing comprehensive
policies in the statutory sector to address the various needs of these different communities.