Definitions
The smallest population units for which census data are available are known
as District Electoral Divisions (DEDs). For the purposes of our demographic
study, Indecon has obtained data from the Central Statistics Office on the DEDs
surrounding the proposed site for the National Stadium. We have compiled this
data to present a socio-economic profile of the 'Site Area', which includes
the suburbs of Blanchardstown, Castleknock, Finglas, parts of Ballygall, Ashtown,
and Cabra West. This effectively includes the main centres of population adjacent
to the stadium site. We have also compiled similar data on a number of other
areas for comparative purposes. These areas are defined in Table 8.6A. While
we present detailed results for the Site Area as a whole, it is important to
note that this area is itself quite heterogeneous. It includes, for example,
the older suburbs of Cabra, the newer suburbs of Blanchardstown, the relatively
sparsely populated Ward area and the Phoenix Park. To reflect this heterogeneity,
we present results for two subsets of the Site Area, which are labelled as the
'West' and the 'East'. The boundary between these two areas is defined to be
the county boundary which separates the new County of Fingal from the Dublin
County Borough. DEDs in Fingal are in the 'West', while parts of the Site Area
inside the city boundary are defined as being in the 'East'.
Table 8.6A Definition of Areas for Socio-Economic Analysis
Area Description DEDs Site Area -West Parts of Fingal in proximity to the
proposed stadium Blanchardstown -Abbotstown Blanchardstown -Blakestown
Blanchardstown -Coolmine Blanchardstown-Corduff
Blanchardstown-Delwood Blanchardstown -Mulhuddart
Blanchardstown -Roselawn Blanchardstown -Tyrrelstown
Castleknock -Knockmaroon Castleknock-Park
The Ward Lucan North
Site Area -East Parts of Dublin County Borough in proximity to proposed
stadium
Ashtown A Ashtown B
Ballygall A Ballygall B
Cabra West A Cabra West B
Cabra West C Cabra West D
Finglas North A
1
1
Page 2
3
Finglas North B Finglas North C
Finglas South A Finglas South B
Finglas South C Finglas South D
Phoenix Park Site Area -Total Total of the above Total of the above
North Dublin Dublin City and County North of the Liffey. All DEDs in
the Dublin County Borough North of the River Liffey, plus all DEDs in County
Fingal
Dublin Dublin City and County All DEDs in Dublin County Borough, South
Dublin, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown Ireland The State All DEDs
in the State
Size and Growth of Population
The total population in each of the areas for analysis is shown in Table 8.6B.
In 1996, the population of the Site Area was 103,280, which was equivalent to
some 10% of the total population of Dublin city and county, or some 23% of the
North Dublin area. Within the Site Area, approximately 54% of the population
lived in the West, with the remaining 46% in the East.
Table 8.6B Population by Area (1996)
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
Males 27062 23032 50094 220906 508966 1800232
Females 28631 24555 53186 233933 549298 1825855
Persons 55693 47587 103280 454899 1058264 3626087
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
Table 8.6C shows the percentage change in population for each of the areas
between 1991 and 1996. The population of Dublin grew by 3.2% during this period,
which was a somewhat more rapid expansion than for the State as a whole. The
growth rate of North Dublin was below the average for all of Dublin, but this
can be accounted for by a slight decline in the North County Borough area while,
at the same time, the population of Fingal expanded by almost 10%. This differential
growth rate is reflected within the Site Area. Those parts within Fingal, the
West of the Site Area, saw population expand by 11%, while the areas in the
East of the Site Area saw a fall in population of 2.2%. An interesting feature
of these trends was the variety of experience across DEDs. In Blanchardstown,
for example, the population of the Blakestown Ward increased by 27.1%, while
that of neighbouring Corduff declined by 7.6%. Among the DEDs on the East of
the Site Area, however, a decline in population was more common.
Table 8.6C Popular Change 1991-1996 (%) 2
2
Page 3
4
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
Persons 11.0 -2.2 4.5 3.0 3.2 2.8
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
Age Profile and Population Dynamics
In Table 8.6D we examine the age profile of the population in the Site Area.
The figures indicate that in relation to the total Site Area there is a significantly
higher proportion of persons in the under 15 age bracket (26.4%) than is the
case in North Dublin and in Dublin as a whole. While there is some variation
in the size of the working-age population groups between the Site Area and other
areas surveyed, the proportion of the population in the 65+ age bracket in the
Site Area (8%) is noticeably lower than that in North Dublin (9. 7%), Dublin
as a whole (9. 9%), and the State (11.4%). The largest variations in the age
profile occur, however, within the Site Area itself. In the West of the Site
Area there is a substantially higher proportion in the younger age groups, with
30.9% in the under 15 bracket in the West compared with 21.2% in the East. In
the 65+ bracket, the proportion was just 3.2% in the West as against 13.2% in
the East of the Site Area.
Table 8.6D Age Profile of Population 1996 (% of Persons)
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
Under 15 30.9 21.2 26.4 22.5 22.0 23.7
15-24 17.8 16.7 17.3 18.5 18.6 17.5
25-39 24.4 23.6 24.0 23.6 23.8 21.4
40-64 23.3 25.3 24.2 25.7 25.6 26.0
65+ 3.7 13.2 8.0 9.7 9.9 11.4
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
This age profile in the Site Area and surrounding areas is reflected in
the analysis of the populations according to family cycle, as presented in Table
8.6E. This shows the distribution of families across a number of different types,
defined in terms of the age group of children, if any, in each family. This
data gives us an indication of the population dynamics within an area, and hence
of the likely future population profile. While the data suggest that the profile
of the site area as a whole is not greatly dissimilar in this respect from the
comparator areas, the most striking feature of Table 8.60 is the much higher
proportion of families in the West of the Site Area who have younger (up to
adolescent age) children. The proportion of families with grown up children
or without children is substantially lower than in the East of the Site Area
and compared with North Dublin, Dublin as a whole, and the State. Thus, residential
areas in the East of the Site Area tend to be more 'mature', while those to
the West tend to be younger. 3
3 Page 4 5
Table 8.6E Profile of Population by Family Cycle 1996 (% of Families)
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
Pre-family (Couple, No children) 10.9 6.8 9.0 9.2 10.0 8.1
Pre-School/ Early School (Parent( s) with children)
27.1 16.9 22.3 21.2 20.9 20.4
Pre-adolescents (Parent( s) with Children)
16.5 10.3 13.6 11.0 11.2 12.4
Adolescents (Parent( s) with Children)
18.8 12.4 15.8 14.3 14.4 16.4
Adult Children (Parent( s) with Children)
21.1 38.3 29.1 32.3 31.1 29.3
'Empty-Nesters' (Couple no children/ retired no children)
5.6 15.3 10.1 11.9 12.3 13.5
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
In Table 8.6F we examine the average size of households in the catchment
area. The average household size in the Site Area (3.36 persons) is significantly
higher than in the surrounding North Dublin area (3.07 persons) and is also
higher than for Dublin as a whole. Within the Site Area, there is a significant
variation in the average household size, with household size in the West typically
higher (at 3.59 persons) than in the East (3.12 persons). The difference between
the West of the Site Area and Dublin as a whole is particularly notable. Again,
this can be related to the age profile and the family cycle data. With more
young families and children in the West of the Site Area, the average family
size tends to be higher.
Table 8.6F Average Number of Persons per household (1996)
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
3.59 3.12 3.36 3.07 2.99 3.14
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
Labour Force Profile
In discussing the labour force profile of a country or area, it is conventional
to define all adults of 15 years and over as being of working age, and to examine
their labour force status. A person is defined as being in the labour force
if they are working or seeking work. Those not in these categories may be outside
the labour force for a number of reasons, including full-time study, retirement,
engagement in home duties or incapacity. A description of the 4
4 Page 5 6
population of the Site Area by principal economic status is presented in Table
8.6G. As in much of the foregoing socio-economic analysis, the variations within
the Site Area are much greater than those between the Site Area and other areas
of Dublin and the State. For instance, the percentage of persons aged over 15
in the West of the Site Area who are at work (54.5%) is substantially higher
than in the East (44.8%), and also in comparison with North Dublin (49%) and
the State (47.2%). As a consequence, the numbers unemployed are lower in the
West of the catchment area (7.5%) than in the East (10.6%). Another notable
difference within the Site Area is the much lower proportion of population over
15 who are retired in the West (3.9%) compared with the East (11.5%). This is
to be expected, given the age profile of the population.
Table 8.6G Profile of Population by Principal Economic Status 1996 (% of
Persons over 15)
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
At Work 54.5 44.8 49.7 49.0 49.6 47.2
1st Job Seeker 1.1 1.6 1.4 1.1 1.0 1.0
Unemployed 7.5 10.6 9.0 8.7 8.1 7.2
Student 14.0 8.1 11.1 11.5 12.3 12.3
Home Duties 16.6 19.7 18.1 17.4 17.2 20.0
Retired 3.9 11.5 7.6 9.1 9.2 9.3
Unable to Work 2.2 3.7 2.9 2.8 2.5 2.9
Other 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.1
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100 100 100
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
A key socio-economic characteristic of any area is the unemployment rate.
This is defined as the proportion of those who wish to work who are unable to
obtain employment. In terms of Table 8.6G, this can be defined as the ratio
of new job seekers and the unemployed combined to the total labour force. A
comparison of the rate of unemployment between the Site Area and other areas
of Dublin and the State is shown in Table 8.6H. The figures indicate that unemployment
in the Site Area as a whole is higher than in Dublin as a whole or in the State.
The largest variation, however, again occurs between the East of the Site Area
(21.4%) and the West (13.7%). Thus unemployment is below the national average
in the West and considerably above the National Average in the East.
Table 8.6H Unemployment Rate % of Labour Force* (1996)
Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total 5
5 Page 6 7
13.7 21.4 17.3 16.6 15.5 14.8
*Labour force is defined as the sum of all persons over 15 either at work, seeking
first employment or unemployed. Source: Indecon Demographic Study
We can further probe the labour force data by examining labour force participation
rates. These data represent the outcome of complex participation decisions,
which are significantly different for men and women, and we examine each separately
below. An analysis of labour force participation rates for males by age cohort
is presented in Table 8.6I. The analysis indicates that labour force participation
among males is higher in the lower age brackets in the Site Area as compared
with North Dublin, Dublin and the State. There is a noticeable difference in
participation rates among 15-24 year old males between the West (45.7%) and
the East (65.5%) of the Site Area. This may reflect earlier completion of secondary
level education in the East of the catchment area, with entry into the labour
force occurring at a younger age. This is consistent with the data on the number
of persons in full-time education, as shown in Table 8.6G. Another important
factor to note is the somewhat lower participation rates among males in the
East of the Site area, which may reflect labour force drop-out by 'discouraged'
workers.
Table 8.6I Male Labour Force Participation Rate % of Age Cohort (1996)
Age-Group Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
15-24 45.7 65.5 54.7 52.7 50.6 49.3
25-34 97.1 96.4 96.7 94.7 94.8 95.7
35-44 97.5 95.2 96.6 95.5 95.9 95.7
45-54 94.9 90.0 92.7 91.7 92.6 91.5
55-64 76.8 64.5 69.0 67.8 69.5 68.9
65+ 12.6 5.0 6.8 8.1 9.2 15.4
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
In Table 8.6J we profile the labour force participation rate among females
by age cohort. In general, the variation in female participation rates both
within the Site Area and between the Site Area and other areas is less substantial
than is the case for males. However, as for males, the participation rate among
15-24 year olds in the West of the Site Area is considerably lower (43.4%) than
in the East (56.9%). A notable difference between the West of the Site Area
and North Dublin and Dublin as a whole is the higher level of participation
among females aged 55 and over. It is difficult to draw strong conclusions from
this data. Traditionally, high female labour force participation was associated
with low levels of male income or employment. In contemporary Ireland, however,
there may be a strong association between the earning power of both partners,
and hence high female participation may be associated with high joint incomes.
6
6 Page 7
Table 8.6J Female Labour Force Participation Rate % of Age Cohort (1996)
Age-Group Site Area North Dublin Dublin Ireland
West East Total
15-24 43.4 56.9 49.2 49.8 47.5 42.0
25-34 70.7 74.7 72.5 75.4 76.4 72.1
35-44 55.9 56.0 55.9 57.5 57.6 52.2
45-54 45.0 43.1 44.2 45.3 46.9 40.2
55-64 29.1 23.8 25.5 27.3 28.5 23.6
65+ 3.5 2.3 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.0
Source: Indecon Demographic Study
An analysis of the work force in the Site Area by type of work is shown
in Table 8. 6K. In the West of the catchment area there is a higher proportion
of full-time workers (83.3%) than is the case in the East (79.4%) and the latter
is also significantly below the levels occurring in North Dublin (83.8%) and
Dublin as a whole (81.9%). Conversely, the proportion of part-time employees
is higher in the East (15.4%) than in the West (13.5%). These variations within
the Site Area are most evident among males. For instance, 92.7% of male workers
in the West of
the Site Area are full-time as against 88.1% in the East. As is true of the
State as a whole, part-time employment is more prevalent among females than
among males in the site area. 7