Laois County Council

Commuter belt shows strongest population growth

CARL O'BRIEN, Chief Reporter

POPULATION GROWTH has been highest in commuter belt counties such as Laois, Cavan, north Dublin and Meath over the past five years, census figures show.

Laois had the highest population increase of any county, increasing by 13,399, a rise of some 20 per cent.

There were also significant population increases in Cavan (14 per cent), Fingal (14 per cent), Longford (13 per cent), Meath (13 per cent) and Kildare (13 per cent).

The only two administrative areas to record a fall in population were Limerick city (-5 per cent) and Cork city (-0.4 per cent) during the 2006-2011 period.

However, there was an increase in the population of both Limerick County (8 per cent) and Cork County (10 per cent), which more than offset any drop in the wider population in these areas.

The trend of the population shifting towards suburbs and commuter belts is reinforced by census figures for the regions.

It shows that the midlands recorded the strongest growth (12 per cent), followed by the mideast (11.6 per cent) and Border area (10 per cent). The lowest increase was in the midwest (5 per cent).

The extent to which the population is now focused on the greater Dublin area is evident in maps accompanying the census results. It shows high concentrations of people – 75 or more per square kilometre – radiating out from the capital into surrounding counties and towns.

Within the capital, Dublin City Council’s population increased much more modestly (4 per cent), as did that of South Dublin County Council (7 per cent).

When the city’s figures are broken down to a more detailed level, it shows significant population increases of about 15 per cent in areas near the city centre such as North Wall Quay and Grand Canal Basin. Along the outskirts of the city, the population is up by more than 15 per cent in areas such as Balgriffin and Glencullen, but has fallen in areas such as Ballymun, Tallaght and Portmarnock.

The most detailed results available are for population increases in electoral division areas, which are the boundaries used in local authority elections.

Of the 3,440 electoral divisions, more than 700 recorded population increases in excess of 15 per cent. The fastest growing electoral division was Balbriggan Rural in north Co Dublin, followed by Lucan-Esker in west Dublin.

Ireland’s population increases have been driven mainly by a very high natural increase – the number of births minus the number of deaths – in recent years. Yesterday’s census results show the highest ever natural increase on record with 45,000 people per annum, or 73,000 births and 28,000 deaths.

70 jobs lost at Laois County Council - Local - Leinster Express

COUNTY Manager, Peter Carey, said he is satisified that Laois County Council is performing well against the objectives of their five year plan but there have been job losses due to the recruitment ban.

The County Manager made his comments while presenting the annual corporate review to members, at last Monday's meeting,

"We have lost over 70 staff members due to the recruitment moritorium, and it would be wrong not to mention the difficulty we will have maintaining the same level of servicem," he told councillors this week.

He complimented the council's staff and said that while other local authorities had looked at resources, he hoped that situation wouldn't arise in Laois.

"We will continue to advance initiatives where we can," he said.

In his report, Mr Carey said that satisfied that Laois County Council was constantly striving to achieve excellence in all areas.

"Laois County Council will continue to be viewed as a model of excellence in Local Government," he said.

The corporate plan 2009-2010 is an opportunity for the council to highlight achievements in their core service areas over the last 12 months.

Such as increasing level of development levies collection in 2010, with over €2.3m collected. Legal proceedings have been initiated against those with outstanding development contributions.

County Hall also facilitated the hosting of a "Start and Grow" Expo in 2010, which was aimed at start-up and expanding businesses and work continued on the upgrade of Clonminam Business Park and on the slip road from the motorway into the National Enterprise Park. Tourist and other events were also marked down as a success.

In 2010, the Housing Section successfully constructed and delivered housing units under the Housing Action Plan and delivered a total of 53 properties under the Rental Accommodation Scheme. New libraries were also opened in Ballylinan and Mountmellick.

Councillors complimented the council on their efforts during the artic conditions of December and January's big thaw.

However, Cllr Paul Mitchell was not as complimentary. "There are 32 lights not working in Portarlington. It's easy to make savings, when your turning out the lights," he said.

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