A WORK experience scheme to encourage migrants to become involved in politics and to increase diversity in the Oireachtas will be announced today.

Four TDs and Senators have already signed up to support the EU-backed pilot project, which will enable people from migrant backgrounds to work as shadow public representatives for six months.

At least 10 per cent of the population are from migrant backgrounds and growing numbers are becoming Irish citizens through naturalisation. The levels of political representation and participation remain low, however, with just three out of 564 candidates in the last general election being Irish citizens through naturalisation.

Crosscare Migrant Project and the European Commission have teamed up to set up the Opening Power to Diversity placement scheme. It will begin recruiting migrants over the next few weeks and they will start shadowing in autumn. Each migrant will get first-hand experience of working in Leinster House one day a week and of doing constituency work one day a week.

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