CSO census figures - The times... they are a changing

THE changing face of Ireland’s social and economic fabric, reflected in the latest census figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), provides fascinating insights into Irish life in the 21st century.

Ranging from ominous signs of a slowdown in the economy, to a huge surge in car usage, the results mirror an Ireland undergoing radical transformation.

Any lingering doubts of a downturn in the economy are dispelled by tell-tale statistics of a sharp fall in the number of planning permissions countrywide.

With the exception of scenic maritime counties, where development remains buoyant, planning permissions plummeted by almost 20% in the first quarter of 2007.

It is unclear if this represents a set pattern or whether it is a blip caused by uncertainty over stamp duty in the wake of the election campaign, when parties resorted to auction politics to buy votes.

It has yet to be seen if the Government’s relatively modest abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers will have a positive impact by kick-starting a recovery of the waning building industry.

With Ireland’s economy dangerously predicated on the fluctuating fortunes of the construction sector, the 19.5% decrease in the number of permissions for apartments is a worrying development.

Overall a decline of almost 9% was seen in the number of planning permissions for dwelling units countrywide.

With one-off houses accounting for more than 23% of permits for new dwelling units, the proportion can be expected to increase following the EU move to outlaw restrictions imposed on the construction of one-off houses in rural Ireland.

Reflecting an enormous growth in car usage in recent years, four out of every five households had at least one car in 2006. Not surprisingly, the level of car ownership is higher in rural areas (88.6%) than in urban areas (75.2%).

There can be no doubt this pattern illustrates the highly unsatisfactory state of public transport up and down the country. It explains the upsurge in commuter traffic on roads where gridlock is the norm, adding hugely to the pressures and stress of life here today.

Confirming this picture, Meath, which is rapidly becoming a dormitory suburb of the capital, had the highest level of car ownership at 90%. Dublin city, where public transport is improving, was lowest at almost 60%.

In another telling finding, 57% of all workers went to work by car last year, up from 55% four years earlier. When drivers of vans or trucks were included, the figure jumped to 65%. Essentially, what these statistics show is that 225,000 more people are now driving to work than in 2002.

In yet another sign of the times, more than half of all primary schoolchildren are now driven to school (55%), a dramatic rise from 27.7% in 1991.

By the same token, however, the number of schoolchildren who walk to school, slumped from 39.4% to 24.3% over the same period, possibly contributing to the growing trend of obesity among Irish children.

The explosion in car usage also underlines Ireland’s failure to tackle climate change. Politically, the rising trend illustrates the challenge confronting the Greens if they are to bring about meaningful change on environmental matters within the new coalition Government.

Depicting the most accurate and illuminating picture of Irish society today, the CSO findings graphically illustrate the urgent need for Government action on such burning issues as the plight of Ireland’s 394,000 people with disabilities or the 161,000 unpaid carers who have to pick up the pieces where the State fails to provide vital services.