Department of Education and Skills Accessing Intercultural Materials (AIM) Information Repository - Government Departments/Bodies

Department of Education and Skills-Education
The Department’s website contains useful information for parents and students, such as where to find schools in an area, school holidays, and information about the Irish education system (which is available in several languages). Please see the “Resources for parents” section for full details. Key statistics regarding education are also available on the website.


Department of Health- Health
Office of the Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA)- OMCYA
The aim of the OMCYA is to co-ordinate policies on children and young people, across a wide variety of areas. The Office’s website contains information about its work, as well as projects, research and policies, such as the “Diversity and equality guidelines for childcare providers”.

Children’s Database- Database
This website was created by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide access to research and information on children for policy-makers, Government departments, academics, voluntary organisations and the general public. The website contains government policy documents and annotated websites.


Department of Justice and Equality- Justice

Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OMI)- OMI
The Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration has developed a website containing a range of information for newcomers to Ireland. The information will also be useful for policy-makers, researchers, and those with a general interest in the area of migration in Ireland. The government's official policy on migration, <a href="../page/AXBN-7SQDF91044205-en/$File/Migration Nation.pdf" title=""Migration Nation - Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management" " target="_blank" >"Migration Nation - Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management" </a>, is available on the website and is also attached below:


Reception and Integration Agency- RIA
The Agency is responsible for, amongst other responsibilities, coordinating the provision of services to both asylum seekers and refugees. The Agency’s website provides information for asylum seekers and refugees on the education system and access to it.


Department of Social Protection- Social Protection

Back to Education Programme- Programme

This Programme is aimed at those who missed out on previous educational opportunities and those needing to update their skills to compete more successfully for employment. It covers second and third level and part-time education courses, as well as other education, training and development courses. An allowance may be paid in some circumstances.

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance- Allowance

The Allowance is designed to help parents and guardians to meet the cost of uniforms and footwear for children attending school. It is provided by the Health Service Executive, through local Community Welfare Officers at local health centres. Certain conditions must be met, details of which are available at the link above.

Office for Social Inclusion (OSI)- OSI

The OSI has overall responsibility for co-ordinating and driving the Government’s social inclusion agenda. This agenda includes the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion) and the social inclusion elements of the National Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 and the new National Development Plan 2007-2013.


Equality Authority- EA

The Equality Authority supports the development of a pro-active approach to equal opportunities in the workplace and in the provision of goods, facilities and services. The Authority’s website contains information (in 14 languages) about the services it offers, including information on a range of subjects and publications. These include an overview of some key aspects of equality in schools and other educational institutions- Diversity at School (2004).

The Authority is the leading agency for Ireland’s participation in the EU project “Living Together: European Citizenship Against Racism and Xenophobia”, which aims to address racism and xenophobia by promoting tolerance and respect. A recent report on the project, which was prepared for the Authority is attached below:
“Trans-national Project Living Together: European Citizenship against Racism and Xenophobia”


Irish Human Rights Commission- IHRC
The Commission works to ensure the protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all and works in partnership with groups and bodies engaged in human rights awareness and education.


Swedish Government

The Swedish Government examined teaching and learning for migrant students in schools. The resulting report , "With another mother tongue- students in compulsory school and the organisation of teaching and learning" (2008), is attached below:

"With another mother tongue - students in compulsory school and the organisation of teaching and learning"


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