Spatial distribution and local level integration of migrants in Ireland

While migration is often discussed nationally, it is experienced locally, and migrants integrate into local areas as well as national communities. It is therefore important to understand how migration is spatially distributed, in what kind of communities migrants reside, to what extent migrants are living in segregated areas, and how migration is governed at a local level. All of these factors have implications for both host society acceptance of migration as well as migrant integration.

This report studies migrant integration from a spatial perspective. We examine the spatial distribution of migrants in Ireland and contextualise these results with qualitative findings about how this is functioning and being governed at a local level. To structure our analysis, we develop a concept of spatial integration which highlights the role of space in enabling or hindering migrant integration. We carry out a mixed-methods analysis, exploring Census and administrative data and carrying out seven qualitative semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in order to develop insights related to migrant integration in Ireland as well as policy implications.