Barriers to health - Migrant health and wellbeing in Belfast

Over the last decade Belfast has experienced significant political, economic and social change. As a consequence, the population of greater Belfast has increased substantially over the past decade. This has been as a result of both natural change and net migration gain. This report covers the following issues legislation on immigration, work, health & social services and social security entitlements; health issues; migrant health priorities identified at the Stakeholder Workshop held in April 2010.

Horwath Report Survey

The Office of the Minister for Integration (OMI), in collaboration with the Department of Education and Science have commissioned consultants, Horwath Consulting Ire-land and their partners, to carry out an independent review to assist in the develop-ment of a National English Language Policy and Framework for legally–resident Adult Immigrants. This is inclusive of asylum seekers. This review aims to identify the strengths and weakness of current provision, to sug-gest ways in which the strengths can be optimised and the weaknesses can be mini-mised. The review will assist in identifying barriers to participation, taking into ac-count Ireland’s rapidly changing demographics, and will suggest ways of overcoming these barriers. To achieve as broad a view as possible the consultants are engaging in a multi-pronged consultative approach. Key stakeholders have been interviewed, focus group meetings have been arranged and to expand the process it is proposed to carry out this survey. This survey seeks to obtain the views of providers of English Language to adult immigrants and interest groups. The views received will be analysed and will be used to inform the process.