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A Muslim pupil faced the jibe, “Do you have a bomb in your bag?” when the bomb squad was called to his school.

Other examples of racism included verbal abuse on the streets with remarks such as, “Go back to your country”, a new study found.

Another teacher inappropriately referred to a student as Allah. Festivals such as St Patrick’s Day increased the likelihood of abusive or racist incidents.

Interviews with 40 young men who set up new lives here found they felt disconnected from public services because of a lack of ethnic diversity in state agencies.

Garda and social welfare officers should undergo diversity and anti-racism training, the Immigrant Council of Ireland recommended following the study.

The report concluded prejudice was often more damaging that overt racism.

Immigrants said they were concerned about being cut off from family and loved ones by immigration rules.

The Immigrant Council’s Brian Killoran said the issues of prejudice when migrants seek to use public services are most worrying.

He added: “The frequency which the men speak of experiencing discrimination by the authorities is very concerning, as are the obstacles they outline in terms of treatment at school and perceived barriers to advancement at work.”

The study looked at the experiences of men under the age of 28 from Africa, Asia, South America and eastern Europe and who now live in Ireland.

Many spoke positively of their experiences with state agencies but the council said the general impression left from many was the need for the Garda and other public services to take a whole organisational approach to diversity. One worker recalled being told they had been unsuccessful in a promotion when they had not yet applied.

The study said while everyone may be subject to such incidents, migrants are more often targeted and young people are more likely to be the perpetrators.

The report called for complaint mechanisms said migrants under 16 should be given the status of statutory permanent residence, while more English language courses should be made available to help immigrants assimilate.

Mr Killoran said the interview-based report was an opportunity to hear voices which are often ignored or forgotten when public policy is debated.

He added: “At special focus groups the men spoke of coming here with a sense of hope and most consider life here far more favourable to their country of birth – but they have identified challenges which we must not ignore. The low numbers of migrants in our public services and in public life has created a disconnect.”