People are “misjudging” and “misconceiving” immigration statistics in Ireland, according to a recent study, reports Breaking News.
Data from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) reveals that most citizens think more than a quarter of the population was born outside Ireland, which is incorrect, reports Breaking News.
This misconception is “strongly associated with negative attitudes to immigration”, the research concluded.
The study, commissioned by the Department of Justice, was based on an anonymous survey of 1,200 adults, reports Breaking News.
Participants estimated that 28 per cent of the population was born abroad, even though the highest official figure stands at 22 per cent.
On average, respondents also believed that 14 per cent of the population originated from outside the EU, UK and North America – double the actual proportion of 8 per cent, reports Breaking News.
“These misperceptions matter. The study found that the people who hold more inaccurate beliefs are also significantly more likely to feel negatively about immigration and to cite it as a major national issue,” the ESRI said, reports Breaking News.
“Overestimating the share of migrants seeking asylum and underestimating migration for work and education have the strongest association with negative attitudes,” reports Breaking News.
Dr Shane Timmons, senior research officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, stated that any meaningful discussion on migration depends on a “shared understanding of the facts”, reports Breaking News.
Mr Timmons said: “While most people do not hold negative attitudes toward immigration, those who do tend to strongly underestimate migrants’ economic contribution. In reality, there are fewer migrants living in Ireland than people think, and far more come for work and education than people believe,” reports Breaking News.
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