Donegal Politics

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Donegal tops the wrong lists


Posted online: May 28th, 2010
Donegal is the most deprived county in the Republic of Ireland and ranks worst in a series of economic indicators, according to a recently published report.
From poverty to educational attainment, infrastructure to housing, and unemployment to health, the alarming statistics paint a worryingly depressing picture.
Among the findings are that Donegal had the:
· Highest unemployment rate of any county
· Highest relative deprivation rate (poverty) of all local authorities
· Highest percentage of population with medical cards
· Highest percentage in any county of people who left school aged under 15
These are just some of the stark facts that emerge in the Donegal Co. Development Board’s publication “Planning for Inclusion in Co. Donegal – a statistical toolkit”.
Most of the findings are based on data collected and collated between 2006 – 2009, and while some of it may not be out of date, there may have been a deterioration in some categories due to the onset of the recession.
In his forward to the publication, the Chairperson of the Donegal Co. Development Board, Cllr. Dessie Larkin, noted that one of its key priorities is access to services for the public.
“There is an enormous challenge ahead for all of us in 2010, in ensuring that services are delivered in a manner that will address the needs of everyone in our community, especially the key vulnerable groups,” he wrote.
According to the “Deprivation Index for Ireland”, produced by TrutzHaase, Co. Donegal has been identified over the last four consecutive Census periods as being the most deprived local authority area in the whole country. Limerick City ranks second.
Those at most risk of poverty include lone parents, those in below market rate rented properties, local authority housing, and the unemployed.
Worryingly, despite the boom years, Donegal has maintained its ranking of being the most deprived local authority area since 1991.
The publication was compiled with a view to providing various agencies and organizations with an in-depth statistical analysis of the current situation. It is hoped that the “toolkit” can assist all agencies with a social inclusion remit to plan their services to reach the people that are the most vulnerable in the community.