This project will examine how public
authorities provide services for ethnic and immigrant groups within the
prescribed legal framework in three jurisdictions: Northern Ireland,
the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
By analyzing the challenges which diversity presents to public service
providers, the project will explore models for responding to the needs
of three main target groups:
- longstanding migrant and minority communities
- refugees and asylum-seekers
- migrant workers.
The project will draw on experiences
across a range of sectors including: health, social services,
education, employment, housing, interpreting, information and advice,
and policing. The primary focus will be to identify how Northern
Ireland public authorities can learn from experience within Northern
Ireland and from their nearest neighbours: Republic of Ireland and
Scotland.
During this 18 month project there will be a major international
conference in March 2006 and the final report is expected to be
available in August 2006.
This study, commissioned by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy
First Minister (Northern Ireland) from the Centre for Cross Border
Studies, is being carried out by the National Consultative Committee on
Racism and Interculturalism (Dublin), the Institute for Conflict
Research (Belfast), and Organization and Social Development Consultants
Ltd (Edinburgh).
