Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
370. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the 'census towns' in the State, for the purposes of the Land Development Agency Act 2021, within which land owned by a relevant public body is liable to be registered by the Land Development Agency as relevant public land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42597/23]
View answerThe LDA Act 2021 provides the definition for relevant public land. Part 1 S(5)(1) defines relevant public land, for the purpose of the Act as ‘all land within a census town owned by a relevant public body’. Under the LDA Act 2021, “relevant public body” means any of the following:
(a) a local authority;
(b) a person or body specified in Schedule 1 (in this Act referred to as a “Schedule 1 public body”);
(c) a person or body specified in Schedule 2 (in this Act referred to as a “Schedule 2 public body”).
Under Part 1 S(4) of the LDA Act, ‘census town means the area of a town (including all the environs of the town for the purpose of the census of population) the population of which, when rounded to the nearest 500 as shown in the latest census report of the Central Statistics Office, is equal to or greater than 10,000, persons’.
The LDA has developed a Register of Relevant Lands which can be accessed on the LDA website as a public web-map showing all relevant public lands. This serves as a strategic mapping tool that shows the extent of relevant public lands. This will build understanding regarding the extent and locations of public lands, support spatial planning and urban rejuvenation as well as enhancing transparency regarding public lands interests. It is a requirement of the LDA Act 2021 that the Agency establish and maintain a register of all relevant public land and land owned by the agency or a subsidiary DAC, to be known as the Register of Relevant Public Lands ('the register'). The Report on Relevant Public Land 2023 is attached below for information.
The 2016 census identified 48 towns of a population equal to or greater than 10,000 when rounded to the nearest 500 ranging from Dublin city (1,173,179) to Gorey (9,822). These 48 settlements are mapped in the register and listed below.
Looking to the future and the projected growth in population across the country, initial results from the 2022 census indicate that an additional 7 towns are expected to fall within the definition of a census town. These are listed below under "Potential Census Towns - Census 2022" and are subject to confirmation on full publication of the census and once CSO data is confirmed the Register will be updated.
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Census Towns – 2016 Census |
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Dublin City |
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Cork City |
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Limerick City |
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Galway City |
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Waterford City |
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Drogheda, Co Louth |
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Dundalk, Co Louth |
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Swords, Co Dublin |
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Navan, Co Meath |
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Bray, Co Wicklow |
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Ennis, Co Clare |
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Carlow |
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Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny |
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Naas, Co Kildare |
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Tralee, Co Kerry |
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Newbridge, Co Kildare |
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Balbriggan, Co Dublin |
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Portlaoise, Co Laois |
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Athlone, Co Westmeath |
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Mullingar, Co Westmeath |
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Letterkenny, Co Donegal |
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Greystones-Delgany, Co Wicklow |
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Wexford, Co Wexford |
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Sligo, Co Sligo |
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Celbridge, Co Kildare |
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Malahide, Co Dublin |
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Clonmel, County Tipperary |
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Carrigaline, Co Cork |
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Maynooth, Co Kildare |
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Leixlip, Co Kildare |
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Ashbourne, Co Meath |
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Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-Donacarney, Co Meath |
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Tullamore, Co Offaly |
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Killarney, Co Kerry |
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Cobh, Co Cork |
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Midleton, Co Cork |
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Mallow, Co Cork |
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Arklow, Co Wicklow |
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Castlebar, Co Mayo |
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Wicklow, Co Wicklow |
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Enniscorthy, Co Wexford |
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Cavan, Co Cavan |
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Gorey, Co Wexford |
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Tramore, Co Waterford |
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Longford, Co Longford |
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Rush, Co Dublin |
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Skerries, Co Dublin |
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Ballina, Co Mayo |
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Potential Additional Census Towns - Census 2022 |
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Kildare, Co Kildare |
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Shannon, Co Clare |
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Dungarvan, Co Waterford |
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Ratoath, Co Meath |
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Athy, Co Kildare |
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Portmarnock, Co Dublin |
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Nenagh, Co Tipperary |
