Almost 40 per cent of third-level students believe non-nationals abuse the social welfare system, according to a new survey. More than 20 per cent of students also believe non-nationals are more likely to be involved in criminality than the general public.
The survey carried out by MORI for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) raised serious concerns, according to the USI president, Mr Colm Jordan.
The survey of 500 third-level students around the State also found a sizeable number of respondents who believed members of the Travelling community were regularly involved in criminality.
Six per cent said they would find it difficult if a sibling married a person from a minority ethnic group. However, when the same question was asked in relation to the Travelling community, 39 per cent expressed a difficulty.
Mr Jordan said the Department of Education and all other responsible education-providers must develop "inclusive curricula and a teacher-training system that adequately prepares educators to deliver this message".
Mr Bernard Cantillon, equality officer with USI, said racism was based on ignorance and fear. "We have an obligation to challenge the stereotypes and urban myths that exist in relation to refugees, asylum-seekers, immigrants and minorities in our country."
While the survey highlighted negative attitudes towards non-nationals and asylum-seekers, in general Irish students were accepting of diversity, with 94 per cent agreeing it was "good for society to be made up of people from different races, religions and cultures".
Mr Jordan said a worrying finding was that 41 per cent of students had no friends among minority ethnic groups. However students had clear ideas of what needed to be done to promote greater integration.
Some 73 per cent said teaching mutual acceptance and respect in schools must be encouraged and 55 per cent wanted to see the promotion of different lifestyles and cultures in college.