Urban and more affluent areas have higher proportions of migrants – research

Urban and more affluent areas in Ireland have higher proportions of migrants, research has shown.

About four in five migrants (78%) reside in urban areas, with most of those living in cities (43%), while the rest live in either commuter towns (15%) or independent towns (20%).

The research, funded by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, was carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute (Esri).

The study also found that the proportion of migrants is higher in more affluent areas.

In electoral divisions classified as ‘very affluent’, 36% of the population are migrants, whereas they make up only 9% of the population in ‘extremely disadvantaged’ areas.

In Dublin, migrants are most concentrated in the city centre and outer suburbs, with areas 2km to 4km from the city centre having lower proportions of migrants.

Migrants are also more likely to live in areas with more private rental housing, as opposed to owner-occupied or social housing.

The urban–rural divide among migrants varies by country of birth. Those born in Great Britain and the United States are most likely to live in rural areas, while those born in some non-EU and western EU countries are most likely to live in urban areas.

There are also distinct patterns across types of urban areas, with eastern EU migrants most likely to live in commuter towns than cities.

Migrant segregation is low in Ireland and did not change between 2016 and 2022.

There are differences in segregation levels by country of birth, with groups of migrants who were born in non-EU, non-Anglosphere countries having higher average levels of segregation than migrants born in Great Britain, the US and Poland.

As part of the research, the authors interviewed several stakeholders working in local integration across the country.

Ireland has historically taken a centralised approach to integration policy, with most responsibility remaining at national level.

However, this has changed with the introduction of Local Area Integration Teams (LAITs) in every local authority.

LAITs support the integration of asylum seekers, refugees and beneficiaries of temporary protection. Overall, interviewees welcomed the introduction of LAITs as good practice in migrant integration.

Many interviewees suggested the remit of LAITs should be expanded to include all migrants or other vulnerable migrant groups.

In reference to International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres, which provide accommodation for those seeking asylum, some interviewees suggested that IPAS centre managers should receive training for their role.

They also noted issues around the availability of English language training in rural areas and difficulties facing migrants living near the border with Northern Ireland, who are not permitted to cross the border without a visa.

Evan Carron-Kee, co-author of the report, said: ”This research finds that the Irish and migrant populations have different spatial distribution patterns across the country.

“Spatial distribution differs between migrant groups too, affecting their opportunities for integration.

“Ensuring that local stakeholders are empowered to adopt solutions at a local level and to inform national decisions is crucial for effective integration policy.”