Commuter belt is widening

COUNTIES outside the Dublin area have recorded phenomenal population growth, according to the latest census figures.

As house prices rise in the city, the widening commuter belt means major population growth has shifted away from Dublin in the last five years to outlying counties such as Meath, Kildare and Wicklow and beyond.

The biggest population growth in the State was recorded in Kildare (21.5%) and Meath (22.1%), while adjoining counties such as Westmeath (13.8%), Wexford (11.7%), Laois (10.9%), Louth (10.5%) and Carlow (10.2%) showed large increases.

“There has been phenomenal growth in Kildare and Meath,” said Aidan Punch of the Central Statistics Office. “What we’re also seeing is the extent to which the commuter belt is reaching out beyond the traditional counties such as Meath and Wicklow.”

Mr Punch said it was clear Leinster was now gaining at the expense of the other provinces which were recording smaller increases in growth.

As the population increased outside cities, there was a slower pace of growth in most cities, while Cork population actually fell by 3,849, or 3%.

Mr Punch said this did not mean Cork’s population was declining.

He pointed out that the loss was more than made up for by increases in the suburbs and hinterland, where numbers increased by 10.7%.

Suburbs and towns outside the city such as Carrigaline (30%), Blarney (27.1%), Cobh (28%) and Caherlag (27.1%) recorded major growth.

A similar pattern was recorded in Dublin city, where growth of just 6.1% was recorded, well down on the national average.