Census 2012: Call to retain number of public representatives

The population surge in South-East Clare has prompted a call for Environment Minister Phil Hogan to retain the number of county councillors representing constituents in this densely populated district.
Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald insists Minister Hogan must take into account the findings of Census 2011, which confirms population increases ranging from 9% in some areas to 54%.
The Labour Councillor warned that any attempts by the minister to introduce another changes, in the electoral area boundaries could result in councillors being forced to represent even more constituents if the current number of local representatives are not retained.
“Any new proposals under plans for the reform of Local Government must take into account Census 2011,” he said.
Official statistics released by the Census reveal the population of the Cappavilla Electoral Division near the Clare campus of the University of Limerick jumped by 54% from 674 in 2006 to 1,038.
The next highest population hike was in Killaloe where it went up from 1,587 in 2006 to 1,826 five years later.
Across the bridge in the twin community of Ballina, the number of residents jumped from 2,459 in 2006 to 2,959 in 2011.
Back in South-East Clare, Ogonnelloe also enjoyed a significant 15% hike from 2006 up to 696 last year.
The Ballyglass Electoral Division, which includes Westbury and large parts of Parteen, went up by 8.9% from 5,379 in 2006 to 5,680 last year.
O’Briensbridge also enjoyed steady growth of 7.2% up from 595 to 638 over the five-year period.
The percentage of males varied from 45.6% in Cappavilla to a high of 50.7% in Killaloe. The percentage of males in Ballyglass and Ballina was 48.8% on the night.
The highest percentage of vacant houses was in Killaloe where 297 houses or 28.7% of its total housing stock of 1,034 was classified as vacant on the night of the Census.
This compared to 16% in neighbouring Ballina were 198 houses were deemed vacant.
Ballyglass, which is one of the most densely populated areas, recorded a low percentage of 4.6% or 100 houses out of a total housing stock of 2,162.
The percentage of vacant houses was much higher in O’Briensbridge where 24 out of the total housing stock of 246 equating to just less than 10% were unoccupied.
The high number of vacant houses in Killaloe was in sharp contrast to Cappavilla were there were only 15 houses left unoccupied representing 4.9% of the total housing stock in this area.
It fell as low at just six houses or 1.7% in Ballycannon, Meelick.