In the last decade Irelands immigrant population grew to more than one in ten. Now in the midst of an economic crisis the integration of immigrants has become a topical issue. Drawing extensively on demographic data and research on immigrant lives, immigrant participation in Irish politics and the experiences of immigrants living in deprived communities, this book offers a thorough study of the immigrant experience in Ireland today. Well-researched chapters and case studies examine the effects of immigration on social cohesion, the role of social policy, the nature and extent of segregation in education, racism and discrimination in the labour market, and the barriers faced by immigrants seeking Irish citizenship. This book will be essential reading for students and scholars of immigration in Ireland and will appeal more broadly to those studying politics, sociology, geography and social policy.

Bryan Fanning is a Professor in the School of Applied Social Science at University College Dublin

AcknowledgementsList of tablesList of Abbreviations and Irish Terms1. Identities and Capabilities2. Integration into What? 3. Social Cohesion4. Some Numbers and Percentages 5. Some Immigrant Lives6. Education and Segregation 7. Integration as Social Inclusion8. Politics and Citizenship9. Some Challenges