South Clare (Shannon Electoral) Area.

Between 1996 and 2002 the population of Clare increased from 94,006 to 103,277 an increase of almost 10%. This growth was reflected in the South Clare area which also saw a population increase of 9% from a figure of 15,368 in 1996 to a figure of 16,751 in the 20002 census. Population growth was uneven however ranging from a 3% decline for the village of Newmarket-on-Fergus to a massive 16% expansion for the village of Sixmilebridge. The town of Shannon and its environs experienced growth of almost 8%. In contrast to the rest of Clare, with the exception of the Ennis Electoral Area, the South Clare area is a predominantly urban region. A total of 11,384 people live in the towns of Shannon, Newmarket and Sixmilebridge. This represents 68% of the total population of the South Clare area. To emphasise the growing population of South Clare as a whole, the rural parts of the area saw a population growth of over 11% between 1996 and 2002. The statistics would seem to indicate an area that is becoming increasingly desirable as a place in which to live, however rapid growth rates may bring difficulties if comprehensive services are not put in place in parallel with the population increase.

The South Clare area also has a predominantly young population with only 8% in the 65+ age group. This is in contrast to an average for the county of 12% and a figure of 16% for the West Clare area. The figure of 70% in the 15-64 age group is also greater than the county figure of 66% and mid to low 60s in the more rural areas. By contrast the 0-14 age group at 21%is just below the county average of 22% but in an area of rapidly growing population this would not be as great a cause for concern as in areas where the population is in decline. The role and importance of ShannonAirport and Industrial Estate in shaping the profile of the South Clare area cannot be under-estimated. Figures from Shannon Development for the year 2000 showed that some 67% of all industrial employment in Clare, over 8,000 jobs, was located in the then Free Zone. While ShannonAirport has seen a number of job losses in recent years it is still an major employer in the area.

In the Shannon Electoral Area one-parent families where at least one child is under 15 years of age accounted for 18% of all such families (where at least one child in under 15). This figure is significantly higher than the county average of 15% and it means that almost two in every 10 families with young children are headed by one parent and this group has been consistently recognised as being at greater risk of poverty. This is further highlighted by recent work carried out for the Combat Poverty Agency by the ESRI. Speaking at the launch of the report Mapping Poverty: National Regional and County Patterns, Helen Johnson of the CPA stated that the report “...shows that the risk of poverty was more than five times greater for local authority tenants than for people living in other types of housing.” The proportion of Local authority rented housing in the South Clare area at 5.2% of all housing is greater than the county average of 4.4%, a situation that raises major issues of social inclusion and exclusion for the area.

The South Clare Electoral Area population in 2002 was 16,751 people with some 70% or 11,726 people in the 15-64 age-group. Of this number some 8,210 were actually in the labourforce i.e. “at work” and “unemployed” and excluding students, retired, those looking after home/family and those unable to work. The labourforce participation rate of 70% is higher than that of the county and can no doubt be attributed to the potential employment opportunities in the Industrial Estate and Airport. In spite of this employment potential the rate of female unemployment at 7% mirrored the county figure while male unemployment stood at 6% compared to a county figure of 8%. The proportion of both males (42%) and females (28%) in the 15-64 age group who were in the labourforce was similar to the overall figures for the county. The South Clare area has 24% of its population in the semi-skilled and unskilled classes, a significantly higher proportion than the county figure of 20%. If the economy of the region were to experience a down-turn these categories of worker would be at greater risk of unemployment.

Although containing some of the best agricultural land in the county, South Clare, with only 2.4% of the workforce engaged in agriculture is the area least dependent on this sector in CountyClare. The South Clare area records 7% of its population classified as having a disability slightly less than the county average of 8%. In 2002 Travellers accounted for 0.4% of the population of the area compared to a county figure of 0.7% of the population.

Summary of some significant points.

South Clare (Shannon Electoral Area) is an area:

  1. which has a rapidly expanding population
  2. which is becoming increasingly urbanised and where agriculture is in decline in terms of its importance
  3. where almost 1 in 4 of the population are classified in the lower (semi-skilled and unskilled) classes
  4. where there are significant numbers (almost 2 in 10) of lone parent families with children under 15
  5. where, in spite of what might appear to be good opportunities, women are not making an impact in labour force participation above the average.