ESRI March 2023 Newsletter

Dear Reader,

March saw the ESRI publishing across our various research areas and revisiting some of our recent reports. Queen's University Belfast co-hosted a discussion on last year’s ESRI/Shared Island report Modelling productivity levels in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It’s always welcome to see research enjoy continuous engagement. We also published our Spring Quarterly Economic Commentary earlier this week.

However, it was research on migrant integration and employment which dominated our March agenda. The Monitoring Report on Integration 2022 found that migrant labour market outcomes were more affected by the pandemic and associated public health restrictions than those of Irish-born. However, by early 2022, the migrant employment rate was higher than that of the Irish-born. The findings also suggest housing is now a priority issue for migrant integration. An EMN Ireland report found a strong take up of the right to work by international protection applicants in Ireland in recent years. Challenges still persist among applicants - the remote location of direct provision centres, access to childcare and discrimination were cited by stakeholders. Our latest Shared Island report looked at migration integration in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Both regions have seen an increase in inward migration in recent decades.

In terms of upcoming events and reports, we have a fascinating study on hidden attitudes towards disability policies with the NDA out in April. There is a webinar launch organised for which you can register below. Our annual event Budget Perspectives is planned for June 15th and will take place in Dublin city centre. Do save the date. We have also finalised the topics for our next stage of research under the Shared Island research programme. Student mobility, housing, social attitudes and gender and labour market inclusion will be our headline reports.

Congratulations to ESRI researchers Dr Karina Doorley, Dr Niall Farrell and Dr Deirdre Robertson who have been chosen to be part of the Young Academy of Ireland (YAI)  – a network of early career researchers and innovators.

I also want to draw your attention to the MSc in Economic Policy which is jointly delivered between the Department of Economics at Trinity College Dublin and the ESRI. Applications are now open for this two-year part-time postgraduate programme. The MSc is designed to equip graduates, who do not necessarily have a background in Economics, with the skills to engage with evidence-based policy making. We’re excited to welcome the second cohort in September and are planning an information evening in the coming weeks. You can find out more about the programme on the Trinity College Dublin website. 

Regards,

Professor Alan Barrett

Director