Nationwide initiative aims to improve communication on migration and reduce tensions
The government is planning to strengthen and expand community engagement to counter anti-immigration trends through a new initiative that will be launched as part of the National Migrant and Integration Strategy next year.
The Department of Justice will lead the implementation of the ‘Community Engagement Programme 2026,’ which aims to improve communication on migration and integration issues while reducing tensions in communities across Ireland.
Targeted Approach
The campaign will focus on counties where migration-related problems have emerged and where International Protection Centers are located. Interventions will continue in areas currently experiencing issues, including South Dublin County Council, Tipperary County Council and Kildare County Council.
Additionally, a new communication and engagement programme will be launched in several other regions. Counties including Donegal, Clare, Leitrim, Wicklow, Limerick and Galway City will introduce the programme as a pilot project to address urgent local issues.
Campaign Objectives
The initiative will highlight the significant contributions thousands of immigrants make to crucial sectors of Irish society, including healthcare, technology and other essential services. The programme also aims to counter misinformation and unnecessary negative propaganda about immigration.
Interventions will be coordinated at both national and local levels, with reporting mechanisms to track progress and impact across different areas.
Community-Level Focus
The Department of Justice envisions the programme as an opportunity to strengthen community engagement while serving as a key mechanism for identifying issues at the grassroots level.
Community engagement teams will focus on areas where accommodation centers are currently operating. Their activities will include preparing briefing notes, organizing information sessions and responding to questions from community organizations and public representatives.
Key government departments, agencies, local authorities and civil society organizations will participate in the programme’s implementation.
Comprehensive Engagement Strategy
Extensive engagement is planned for government-owned sites such as Citywest, where International Protection applicants are accommodated. The programme will include meetings with elected representatives, residents’ groups, non-governmental organizations, local service providers and community leaders.
An Garda Síochána will be involved to help address local security and public order concerns related to migration issues.
The programme will also gather feedback and insights on migration and integration from communities across Ireland, informing future policy development.
Previous Attempts Stalled
Public awareness campaigns on immigration had been considered at government level previously but failed to materialize. In 2023, a communication plan was prepared involving communities and local representatives, aiming to prevent protests against refugee accommodation by providing factual information on immigration issues.
However, the initiative was halted after strong opposition emerged from within the Taoiseach’s Department, reflecting political sensitivities around immigration communication.
Political Context
The new programme comes as Ireland grapples with increased immigration, capacity pressures on accommodation systems, and rising anti-immigrant sentiment in some communities. Protests against refugee accommodation centers have occurred in Dublin, Cork, Galway and other locations, often organized through social media by nationalist groups.
Tánaiste Simon Harris recently acknowledged that the current immigration rate “cannot continue” and that the system is “stretching beyond the country’s capacity,” signaling a shift in government messaging on the issue.
The Community Engagement Programme represents an attempt to balance concerns about immigration levels with efforts to combat misinformation, reduce community tensions and recognize immigrants’ contributions to Irish society.
Success will likely depend on the government’s ability to address legitimate community concerns about resources and capacity while challenging xenophobic rhetoric and promoting factual understanding of immigration’s role in Ireland’s economy and society.