WEST Cork communities are facing extinction, it is claimed.
The prophets of doom are armed with plenty of statistics which show how serious population decline has become.
Recently released census figures being analysed by community groups show an alarming drop in population in some areas. This is most noticeable in the West Cork peninsulas.
Migration is confirmed by significant population rises in major satellite towns around Cork city. Families have also seen their children move to that region to find much-needed jobs.
In 1926, there were 1,277 people living in Adrigole. That had fallen to 479 by 2002. Last year, it had dropped again, this time by another 20.
On Bere Island, a population of 1,182 in the mid-1920s has been whittled away to 207. In nearby Kilnamanagh, it has dropped from 1,206 to 371. In the Bantry area in the past four years there have been significant decreases in population in Ahil and Whiddy. Outside the town of Bantry, its major hinterland has seen a falloff in residents in the past four years.
In the Schull area, five out of 11 of the large settlements have seen population decline continue. In the Skibbereen area the same is true of 10 of the 23. In Millstreet, six have increased and the same number decreased, while parts of the Kanturk region, such as Meens and Nadd, have seen 11% decrease since 2002.
Goleen Community Council chairman Paul O’Sullivan has seen the demise of people in his area and is putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of public representatives.
Goleen’s population was recorded as 260 in 2002 and last year’s Census showed it down to 238. The neighbouring village of Crookhaven fell also, as did six of the 11 settlements in the Schull rural electoral area.
“There is a major difficulty in this area for people getting planning permission for one-off houses. There also seems to be a lack of will in the County Council to sanction local authority housing in small villages. In Goleen we were promised five, six and seven years ago that such houses would be built, but not a sod has been turned,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“There’s a lack of will to invest in peripheral areas and if that continues there is no future for them. We have seen a gradual and very worrying decline in population,” he added.
Helen Quinn, coordinator of the family resource centre in Adrigole, said a lot of people had been leaving the area.
“I know people who can’t get housing. It is difficult for locals and for any new families moving in. There are no houses to rent. We need Social Housing here. As soon as the young people are finished school they want out of the area, there are no opportunities,” Ms Quinn said.
She added that infrastructure improvements and job creation needed to be addressed immediately.
To prove that migration is happening one need only look at population figures in other parts of the county, most notably to the east.
The population outside Cobh town, and basically within the so-called Great Island area, jumped from 4,614 in 2002 to 6,370 in 2006. Ballincollig’s population increased by more than 1,200 during the same period and it rose by 1,500 in Carrigaline. Douglas saw a huge jump from 15,999 to 18,192.
Only one of the 15 settlements in the Midleton rural electoral area saw a fall in population and it was miniscule.
Meanwhile, Carrigtwohill’s population rose by 38.8% from 3,507 in 2002 to 4,869 last year.
Cllr Danny Crowley said that the county council will need to recognise the shift in population from many parts of West Cork towards the larger towns and cities and it will be a major challenge for incoming county manager Martin Riordan.
“We have seen unprecedented economic growth in many parts of the county. However, I would have a serious concern that most of the western region have struggled to maintain existing population levels and other services needed to sustain local communities.’’
He pointed out that in the immediate area surrounding Adrigole three national schools and three post offices had closed in recent years, along with many other businesses.
“The planning system will have to be amended to recognise the needs of many communities in West Cork. This can be achieved by local groups and organisations having their input into the review of the County Development Plan, which will commence shortly,” Cllr Crowley said.
“It is no longer acceptable that young people, in particular those who want to remain in West Cork, have to endure many years of hardships and the possibility of submitting up to three applications to secure planning permission on their own land,” he added.
A member of the council’s strategic policy committee for planning and development, Cllr John Gilroy, said the road infrastructure in West Cork was one of the major reasons industry wasn’t locating in the region. He added that not enough land was being zoned for housing in that region compared to the east of the county.
Cllr Gilroy said it was time these issues were addressed before further migration led to the extinction of several rural communities.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
