Press Release                              

Date: Tuesday 21st September TBC

Launch of new Integration Strategy for County Kildare

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth Roderic O’Gorman TD to launch the 2020 – 2026 County Kildare Integration Strategy

Kildare County Council in collaboration with County Kildare LEADER Partnership (CKLP) and Kildare Integration Network are launching the 2020 – 2026 County Kildare Integration Strategy on Thursday the 30th of September at 11.00 am. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth Roderic O’Gorman TD will officially launch the new County Kildare Integration Strategy at the online event.

The 2020 – 2026 Kildare Integration Strategy is the culmination of a lengthy consultation process comprising key agency stakeholders, local representatives and member groups from the diverse migrant population in Kildare and aims to support the inclusion of people from ethnic minorities and new communities living, working, or studying in County Kildare.

This is Kildare’s second integration strategy, the first covered the period 2014 – 2019 and was developed in recognition that society has changed, and Kildare wanted to ensure a more inclusive and integrated society for all who made Kildare their home.

According to the 2016 Census, within Kildare, 23,333 people described themselves as non-Irish nationals, 10.6% of the county’s population.  In the same census, the total population of Kildare was recorded as 220,693, a 64.8% increase from 1996 – 2016.  The population growth and societal changes in Kildare highlight the importance of a comprehensive integration strategy to support and facilitate an inclusive and integrated society.

Development of the new Integration Strategy was overseen by the Kildare Interagency Integration Committee chaired by Cllr. Aoife Breslin with close collaboration and co-funding between Kildare County Council & CKLP.  The process was facilitated by Sara Stephens in close collaboration with a Strategy Working Group. The Kildare Integration Network also played a key role in supporting community participation.

Joining Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth Roderic O’Gorman TD at the event will be Marian Higgins, Interim Director of Services, Economic, Community & Cultural Development, (Kildare County Council) Cllr Naoise Ó Cearúil, Cathaoirleach, (Contae Chill Dara), Sonya Kavanagh, Interim Chief Executive (Kildare County Council), Cllr. Aoife Breslin (Chairperson of Kildare Interagency Integration Committee), Oluwabunmi Olaniran, Consultation Partner, Pat Leogue, Manager (County Kildare Leader Partnership), Norman Farragher & Kevork Gergees (Naas Mens’ Shed), Zoryana Pshyk, Chairperson (Kildare Integration Network), Consultation Partner – Laura Whelan (St. Conleth’s Community College, Newbridge) with music by Beth Kinyua, (County Kildare Leader Partnership).

Copies of the strategy will be available post launch.

Register to join the online event here –  https://tinyurl.com/Kildare-Integration-Launch

 

For More Information:

Sarah Delahunt sdelahunt@kildarecoco.ie

Krystle Foley info@fusiondigital.ie 087-3966952

Anne Daly anne@countykildarelp.ie

 

Event Details

Date: 30th September 2021

Time: 11am

Location: Online via Teams

Meeting Link: https://tinyurl.com/Kildare-Integration-Launch

Please log in in advance of the meeting start time. It is recommended to use the Google Chrome browser.

About County Kildare LEADER Partnership

County Kildare LEADER Partnership is responsible for the delivery of a range of Rural, Enterprise, Social Inclusion and Community Development Initiatives in County Kildare including the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme.  CKLP also acts as a host organisation for local projects including Older Voices Project and the Heads-Up Programme.

Running Order – Start Time: 11.00 a.m. Thursday 30th September

  • Introduction – Marian Higgins, Interim Director of Services, Economic, Community & Cultural Development, Kildare County Council

  • Welcome – Cllr Naoise Ó Cearúil, Cathaoirleach, Contae Chill Dara

  • Kildare County Council – Sonya Kavanagh, Interim Chief Executive

  • Presentation of Strategy Cllr. Aoife Breslin, Chairperson of Kildare Interagency Integration Committee

  • Consultation Partner – Oluwabunmi Olaniran

  • County Kildare Leader Partnership – Pat Leogue, Manager

  • Consultation Partner – Naas Mens’ Shed – Norman Farragher & Kevork Gergees

  • Kildare Integration Network – Zoryana Pshyk, Chairperson

  • Consultation Partner – St. Conleth’s Community College, Newbridge – Laura Whelan

  • Launch of Strategy – Minister Roderic O’Gorman T.D.

  • Close – Cathaoirleach Cllr. Naoise Ó Cearúil / Marian Higgins, Interim Director of Services, Economic, Community & Cultural Development, Kildare County Council

  • Music by Beth Kinyua, County Kildare Leader Partnership