Population growth in South prompts census questions

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday July 30, 2002 03:06 by McMean

The 26 County census has showed the population here has increased by 8pc in six years and at 3,917,336 is at its highest since 1871, but still well off its pre-famine peak.

All areas showed population increases, but the most dramatic
increases were in Kildare and Meath, where the population has
increased by over 20pc since 1996 as Dublin's urban sprawl
spreads westwards.

The population growth in Connacht was much more modest, with a
3pc rise in Leitrim, 3.5pc in Roscommon, 4.2pc in Sligo and 5.3pc
in Mayo. Galway city remains the fastest growing city, however,
with an increase of 14.9pc.

One of the most interesting features of the census result was the
increase in net migration, with the numbers coming to Ireland
surpassing the number of emigrants by an average of 25,500 a year
since 1996 -- over half the net population increase.

But the figures were also thought provoking in that the
equivalents from the Six Counties have not yet emerged.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Mitchel McLaughlin has queried how the
26 County census, conducted in April 2002 with almost 4 Million
respondents, could already be accessed for information when there
has been a wait of more than 15 months for the 6 County census
figures.

"At the time of the census we were told the results would be
available by June 2002. That has now been extended until the
autumn and possibly 2003 and we need to know why," said
McLaughlin.

"In reality it will take more than 5 times longer to produce
figures for less than half the respondents. That is not good
enough," he said.

Speculation is already rife that the census figures will show a
major narrowing of the gap, with many commentators forecasting
parity between the two main communities.

McLaughlin, who said such a result would have a major
psychological impact, and that the speculation -- if inaccurate
-- was needlessly increasing the insecurity in unionism

"I am not convinced that the delay is not politically motivated,"
he said.

"Unionism has already demonstrated its inability to deal with the
reality of change but allowing speculation about the demographic
changes only serves to further feed genuine fears and suspicions.

"It is not doing the people of this island any service by
withholding population figures that would inform the debate about
constitutional change that needs to take place. If there is a
significant demographic change the sooner that information is
made available the sooner we can deal with it.

"If people believe that cushioning unionists from demographic
reality will assist peace building on this island they are
mistaken, and if they believe that delaying these figures will
shore up David Trimble they are indulging in wishful thinking."