Denis Naughten
Question:5 Mr. Naughten asked the Taoiseach the five counties which have the lowest level of disposable income per capita. [6288/01]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Disposable Income.
The information requested by the Deputy is shown in the following table in respect of 1998, the latest year for which figures are available.
|
County |
1998 Disposable Income per capita(£) |
1998 Indices ofDisposable incomeper capita(State = 100) |
|
Offaly |
7,794 |
83.6 |
|
Wexford |
7,934 |
85.1 |
|
Kerry |
7,935 |
85.1 |
|
Roscommon |
7,964 |
85.4 |
|
Tipperary S.R. |
7,999 |
85.8 |
|
State |
9,324 |
100 |
I gather from what the Minister of State is saying that Offaly, on the 1998 figures, is now the poorest county in Ireland. Has the Minister of State, through the CSO, investigated the reason for this or has he carried out a survey as to why there has been such a dramatic shift in the poorest counties?
Again, the Minister of State is responsible for the keeping of the figures.
Are there any plans to undertake a more detailed examination of these figures to ascertain why there has been such a dramatic shift in relation to some counties? For example, County Leitrim was traditionally the poorest county in Ireland. Now, counties in the midlands are the poorest. Does the Minister of State agree that a more detailed survey would be of benefit in helping to ensure the resources are targeted into those areas of the country which appear to be losing out as the economy expands?
The CSO only decided to take this new initiative last year. It commenced work by looking at the period 1991-97. The figures I have given relate to 1997 and 1998, which is five years ago. Given other indicators, I assume they have substantially improved.
The data are compiled at regional and county level but the CSO strongly stresses that the information I have provided to the House can only be indicative because for a number of reasons it is not possible to provide neat figures for counties. It is important, therefore, that the House understand this and that the figures are five years old.
How can figures for 1998 be five years old?
They cover the period 1991-97 and 1997-2002, which is four years.
I understood the Minister of State was responsible for statistics.
I am speaking in political terms.
Given that these figures are approximately five years old does the Minister of State not agree that because there is such a delay in compiling them it makes it difficult to use them for drafting policy? Will he indicate if there are any plans to keep such figures more up to date and relevant so that they can be used as an indicator of where policy needs to be changed?
The CSO only decided on this new initiative in 2000. It was decided to take the period 1991-97 and I presume it will be able to get more up to date figures as the project proceeds. A notable feature of the figures was the 6% increase in disposable income per capita in County Kildare during that period, from 94% to 100.6% of the State average, due mainly to the expansion of the Dublin metropolitan region. By contrast, the disposable income of the south-east region has declined from 92% of the State average in 1991 to 88% in 1998, with all counties in the area showing a decline.
Anybody concerned with the need for aggressive decentralisation would be interested in these figures. Will the Minister of State indicate, as he did in response to previous questions, if the CSO will be able to provide a trend? Will the figures become available on a five yearly basis and how far back will they go to establish a trend of changes in a county's income?
A trend will emerge when the CSO repeats the exercise. It started this initiative in 2000 for the period 1991-97/98.
Were figures compiled for the period before that?
No.