PRELIMINARY results from Census 2016 show that Dublin 15 has seen the biggest population increase in the country over the past five years.
The Blanchardstown-Blakestown electoral division has risen by eight per cent since 2011, from 36,057 to 38,924, while The Ward (including Tyrrelstown) and Blanchardstown-Abbotstown (including Waterville) are also in the top 10 fastest growing districts in the country.
Fingal’s population is up by 8.1 per cent overall, compared to a 4.8 per cent increase in Dublin City Council’s area.
Nationally, net migration has fallen sharply but Fingal, with its relatively young population, had the highest level of natural increase, gaining an annual average of 15 persons per 1,000 of the population over the five years.
Green Party Dublin West representative, Cllr Roderic O’Gorman, says the figures show the need for Government planning for Fingal.
“Three of the top 10 fastest growing electoral districts in the country are located in the Dublin 15 area,” he said.
“The census is giving statistical proof of something that Dublin 15 residents know all too well. More and more houses are being built, but the services, particularly in the area of public transport, are not being provided to match.”
Cllr O’Gorman is calling on Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, to provide funding for transport projects in West Dublin in light of the census results.
“It is essential that the new Minister for Transport reviews the Capital Infrastructure Plan before 2021 and gives funding for projects in West Dublin,” he said. “We cannot afford five years of traffic gridlock.”
According to the preliminary results of Census 2016, Ireland’s population is now 4,757,976, an increase of 3.7 per cent on 2011. Of those, 1,345,402 are living in Dublin – 72,333 more than five years ago.
Meanwhile, the figures also show that there are 36,732 vacant dwellings in Dublin – a vacancy rate of 6.9 per cent.
Responding to these figures, homeless charity Peter McVerry Trust, called for the State to “urgently address” the large volume of empty properties in private ownership.
“The figures show that the number of vacant properties is unacceptably high,” said Francis Doherty, head of communication.