Presentation to the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection 12/12/2012 MRCI is a national organisation working to promote justice, empowerment and equality for migrant workers and their families. Migrant Education Access Migrant Education Access (MEA) is an initiative of MRCI working with young people and families on equality of access to third level. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland 55 Parnell Square West Dublin

The current context – a diverse and young Ireland Ireland experienced a sustained period of inwards migration over the past ten years resulting in a diverse multicultural country where thousands of migrant families have made Ireland their permanent home – 17% of population born outside of Ireland (2011 Census) 1 in 7 children coming from a migrant back ground estimated 22,681 children born outside the EU registered in Irish secondary schools i.e. 1 in 7 children migrant background Highly diverse student body in third level institutes across Ireland 1000’s of children have joined their parents under family reunification – inevitable and humane reality of global migration Education at the heart of the integration process Our large, expanding and diverse pool of young people as one of our “biggest strategic assets at third level”

Understanding the access issues arising for young migrants These are young people living here for a minimum of 3 years, (many of whom have completed their primary and secondary level education in this country) who have made Ireland their home over the past ten years. In essence we have an immigration system that never considered their arrival in Ireland and a third level education system that is significantly inaccessible Immigration system Young people joining families and making Ireland home in the absence of a comprehensive immigration framework Residency stamp system set up for workers and adults resulting in very significant barriers accessing citizenship Interim measures now in place but remains to be seen if current cycle of leaving cert students will be naturalised before taking up places at third level (730 students per year approx) Education system Universities unclear how to respond to young people resident in Ireland long term but not in possession of citizenship ‘EU fees’ category as an interim measure resulting in tuition fees 3 times the rate applied to Irish born peers (on average €8000 for a 4 year degree, accumulating differences of €40,000 over lifetime of degree) Young people securing citizenship whilst in collage (over age of 18) are unable to reverse their fee status and must continue to pay fees at a much higher rate for remainder of degree

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Recommendations MEA advocates that young who have come to Ireland to join their families and are here a minimum of 3 years should not be excluded from accessing third level education. 1. We would ask that the committee raise these access issues with the Minister and Department of Education and Skills and would ask that the Minister respond 2. That the Department of Education seek a meeting with the Department of Justice and Equality and relevant officials to monitor interim measures for naturalisation of children of non EU migrants (in particular the current cycle of leaving cert students) 3. That the Committee on Education and Social Protection take a lead to ensure effective and immediate action is taken to address the particular situation of young people who have secured Irish citizenship but are unable to reverse their fee status In dialogue with the dedicated access office within the Higher Education Authority and in the context of the National Access Plan which may require a re-examination of the criteria of access to financial assistance for higher education and higher education grants the application of a standard residency test in third level institutions

Cost benefit argument in allowing equity of access Cost Significant enough to merit an immediate response but not so large that provision for these young people is unrealistic in the current economic climate €12,690 current annual expenditure per student according to OECD Education at a Glance Report The cost of not ensuring the children of our first generation of immigrants can progress to third level - potential cost to the exchequer in the long term Cost of not? – in accordance with article 18 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, any discrimination on the grounds of nationality is prohibited within the scope of application of the Treaties. Benefit Unemployment rate for a 3 rd level educated young person currently stands at 6.8% compared to 13.7% for those who have leaving certificate Tertiary graduate earns on average 75% more than a person leaving school at leaving cert Tertiary graduate has average spending powers of over €30, 926 a year an additional €300,000 over their working lives compared to leaving cert graduates These are young people overwhelmingly represented in knowledge economy subject areas (IT, computer science, biomedical engineering, sciences), ambitious, bright and dedicated students Integration and social cohesion perspective - that young people who have joined their families in Ireland, made Ireland home are afforded the basic right of equity of access to third level – the danger of creating an underclass of immigrants socially and economically