8 Socio-Economic
Assessment
8.6 Analysis by District
Electoral Divisions (DEDs)
A set of six
indicators were recorded for each DED within the study area,
these included population density, population change, change
in the total at work, percentage employed in manufacturing
industries, unemployment rate, percentage employed in the
primary sector. Using a statistical formula specific to each
indicator, each DED within the study area was placed in a
percentage band based on their performance. It is important
to note that this information is based on the population that
resided in each DED during the 1991 and 1996 census according
to the CSO small area information.
Population
Density -1996
The study area
is divided into four population density bands (Figure A3).
The population density of each DED varies from greater than
150 persons per square kilometre to less than 25 persons per
square kilometre.
The densely populated
DEDs are located in and surrounding the towns of Kildare,
Athy, Carlow, Muinebheag, Thomastown and Kilkenny. Each of
these centres have DEDs with more than 100 persons per square
kilometre. The majority of the other DEDs have lower population
densities.
The areas of
lowest population density are generally in upland areas, relatively
remote form the principal settlements.
Percentage
Population Change - 1991-1996
Using this indicator,
DEDs within the study area are divided in five population
percentage change bands ranging from -19.3 to 52.6 per cent
(Figure A4). The pattern of population change represents an
even distribution within both the northern and southern section
of the study area. Only one DED in the entire study area experienced
a population change between 52.5 to 52.6 per cent and this
is within the environs of Waterford.
The DEDs which
experienced large population decline (-19.3 to 6 per cent)
are generally located in marginal rural areas and many of
them correspond to areas of low population density.
While DEDs located
around Carlow and Kilkenny experienced population increases
in the 1991-96 intercensal period, some DEDs surrounding Athy
and New Ross recorded a decline, indicating the relative weakness
of these urban centres.
Percentage
Change in Total at Work 1991-1996
The study area
is divided into five bands of percentage change in the total
population 'at work' between 1991 and 1996, varying from -16.2
to 72.6 per cent (Figure A5). It should be noted that these
data refer to place of residence not place of work. The majority
of DEDs fall within the 7.5 to 16 per cent change band and
these are evenly dispersed across the study area.
In general, the
northern section of the study area experienced higher levels
of growth in the numbers at work, possibly reflecting the
relative strength of urban centres in this area as well as
the influence of commuting to the Dublin area.
In contrast,
the southern section of the study area experienced relatively
lower percentage changes in the total population 'at work'
during the 1991 to 1996 period with a number of DEDs recording
a modest 0 to 16per cent increase.
The DEDs recording
a decrease in numbers at work are mainly located in relatively
remote and/or upland areas, and many of these correspond to
DEDs with a weak demographic structure as identified on Figures
A3 and A4.
Percentage
Employed in Manufacturing Industries - 1996
Using this indicator
the study area is divided into four categories (Figure A6).
The percentage of those who are employed manufacturing industries
varies from 3.3 to 35.9 per cent. The indicator shows where
those employed in manufacturing industries reside. It does
not indicate where the manufacturing industries are located.
The relative
strength of the northern section of the study area is evident.
Three concentrations may be identified in this area - (1)
along the N78 from Kilcullen to Castlecomer; (2) between Castlecomer
and Carlow; and (3) along the N9 from Carlow to Muinebheag.
These reflect the traditional industrial base of Carlow and
Athy and may also reflect the relative accessibility to work
provided by the National Route system.
Within the southern
section, the DEDs with the highest concentration of those
employed in manufacturing industries concentrate in the Waterford
area. The relatively low percentage of workers in manufacturing
in the vicinity of Kilkenny is also apparent. This probably
reflects the importance of services, including tourism, as
an economic activity in Kilkenny as compared with manufacturing.
Percentage
Unemployment rate - 1996
The unemployment
rate is defined as unemployed plus 1st job seekers as a percentage
of the total labour force. In 1996 in the study area, percentage
unemployment rate fell into four bands ranging from 3.5 to
28.1 per cent (Figure A7).
The northern
section recorded higher percentages in the rate of unemployment
than the southern section. The unemployment rate in the northern
section lies between 15.9 to 28.1 per cent in the majority
of DEDs. The northern section also contained a number of DEDs
in the 9.7 to 15.9 per cent category. In some respects, this
is surprising, given the employment opportunities in the Dublin
area and the evidence of commuting provided by the other indicators.
However, it may reflect the decline of traditional industries
in the area.
Within the southern
section the rate of unemployment is significantly lower with
the majority DEDs in the two lower bands 3.5 to 9.7 per cent.
Six DEDs within the southern section fell into the 15.9 to
22.1 per cent bands. None of the DEDs in the southern section
fell into the highest percentage band.
Percentage
at Work in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing - 1996
This indicator
shows the percentage of the DED population that were at work
in the primary industries of agriculture, fishing or forestry
in 1996 (Figure A8). The DEDs were divided into four bands
ranging from 0.6 to 59.1 per cent. DEDs surrounding the main
urban centres Athy, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford Environs
fall into the 0.6-14.5 per cent band, the lowest band. The
remaining DEDs portray an even distribution across the study
area.
Rural Typology
A map of Rural
Typology was developed as part of the study of the Irish Rural
Structure and Gaeltacht Areas Study commissioned by the Spatial
Planning Unit in the Department of the Environment. The study
was carried out by Fitzpatrick Associates in association with
NUI Maynooth and Brady Shipman Martin. From this work, it
was possible to identify Urban DEDs, which are those DEDs
aggregated to Urban Districts (as defined by the CSO), other
DEDs with a population density in excess of 150 persons per
square kilometre (following an OECD definition of urban regions)
and DEDs which contained other urban centres of 1,500 population
or greater. These DEDs were then excluded from further analysis.
Using Cluster
Analysis on the remaining DEDs generated a spatial classification
of the rural part of the study area (Figure A9). Using combinations
of socio-economic variables, six clusters or types of rural
areas were identified and these are described in Table 8.2.
The urban and
peri-urban areas are generally densely populated and represent
the locations of most economic activities, as well as the
principal centres of population.
The remainder
of the study area is generally made up of Cluster Areas 2
and 3 which are generally recognised as being strong agricultural
areas.
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