The PPN Migrant/Minority Thematic Group (MTG) attended the latest Local Area Integration Team (LAIT) Forum on Monday, 17 November, held in the Mansion House. The historic venue felt like an appropriate setting for a discussion centred on inclusion, belonging, and the shared responsibility of shaping a city where everyone can feel at home. The forum brought together a wide range of stakeholders, for example, local authorities, community groups, migrant-led organisations, service providers, and representatives from civil society. Each group is working in different ways to support people integrating into the urban environment of Dublin.
Throughout the meeting, several key themes emerged. Participants highlighted the ongoing need for coordinated approaches to integration, particularly in the areas of housing, education, social inclusion, and access to services. Many stakeholders spoke about the challenges migrants face upon arriving in Dublin: navigating unfamiliar systems, securing stable accommodation, and building the social connections needed to participate fully in community life. There was a strong emphasis on the importance of culturally sensitive services and the value of migrant voices in shaping policies that directly affect them.
The MTG is an internal group of the PPN, and offers a grassroots perspective, underscoring the importance of community-driven solutions and the lived experiences of migrant and minority groups. The group also noted the potential for improved collaboration between statutory bodies and community organisations to ensure that integration efforts are both effective and sustainable. Several stakeholders expressed interest in more formalised channels for information sharing, joint initiatives, and early identification of emerging issues within communities.
Overall, the forum offered a constructive and energetic space for dialogue. It affirmed the shared commitment across sectors to improving integration outcomes and strengthening social cohesion. The MTG will continue to feed the insights gathered at the LAIT forum into its ongoing work, helping ensure that migrants and minority communities remain central to the conversation about Dublin’s future.