Longford County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Location Birthplace Nationality Birthplace % Nationality % Ireland 32,732 34,000 81% 84% UK 2,507 1,155 6% 3% Poland 1,774 1,903 4% 5% Lithuania 493 540 1% 1% Other EU 28 1,407 1,483 3% 4% Rest of World 1,742 917 4% 2% Not stated 0 657 0% 2% Total 40,655 40,655 100% 100% Table 2.4: Usually resident population in County Longford by place of birth and nationality (Source: CSO) Lough Leebeen 31County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Figure 2.6: Non-Irish residents in County Longford (Source: CSO) 32Longford County Council

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   2.4.4 Ethnicity County Longford is a diverse county with many nationalities living therein which contribute to the local population and vibrant community. Approximately 19.5% of the population were born overseas, and 16.4% of the population are not of Irish nationality (Figure 2.6 and Table 2.4). The British, Polish and Lithuanian communities are the largest groups of non-nationals; with pockets of high concentrations of Polish population evident in Granard, Ballymahon and Longford town; and Lithuanians in Longford town, Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown. Generally, higher concentrations of non-Irish nationals were evident in and around the settlements (Figure 2.6). 2.4.5 Households Within County Longford, the average household size was 2.7 persons. A breakdown of private households by size for County Longford provided in Table 2.5 and Figure 2.7 illustrates the relatively high proportion of one and two person households within the county. Table 2.5: Private households by size in County Longford (Source: CSO) Size of household Households Persons 1 person 4,035 4,035 2 persons 4,233 8,466 3 persons 2,466 7,398 4 persons 2,274 9,096 5 persons 1,320 6,600 6 persons 552 3,312 7 persons 149 1,043 8 or more persons 93 825 Total 15,122 40,775 16.7% of the housing stock in County Longford was vacant during the most recent Census, of which 278 units were unoccupied holiday homes and 2,824 units were other vacant dwellings. The distribution of vacant households during 2016 is illustrated in Figure 2.8. In order to reflect the latest data in relation to vacant households, a review of the Geodirectory data from the first quarter of 2019 has been completed, in addition to the information from the 2016 Census. Vacant households were still present across County Longford with higher concentrations present in the vicinity of the settlements in the county as illustrated in Figure 2.9. 1 person household 3 persons household2 persons household 4 persons household 5+ persons household Figure 2.7: Private households by size in County Longford (Source: CSO) 26.7% 28.0% 16.3% 15.0% 14.0% 33County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Pulliness Waterfall, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford 34Longford County Council

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   Figure 2.8: Proportion of residential vacancies per ED in County Longford (Source: CSO) 35County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Figure 2.9: Vacant residential properties in County Longford in 2019 (Source: Geodirectory) 36Longford County Council

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   Figure 2.10: Education by highest level achieved within County Longford (Source: CSO) 16.7% of the housing stock in County Longford was vacant during the most recent Census, of which 278 units were unoccupied holiday homes and 2,824 units were other vacant dwellings. The distribution of vacant households during 2016 is illustrated in Figure 2.8. In order to reflect the latest data in relation to vacant households, a review of the Geodirectory data from the first quarter of 2019 has been completed, in addition to the information from the 2016 Census. Vacant households were still present across County Longford with higher concentrations present in the vicinity of the settlements in the county as illustrated in Figure 2.9. 2.5 Socio-economic Profile 2.5.1 Education County Longford has varying levels of educational attainment. As demonstrated in Table 2.6, 52.1% of the population above 15 years have completed their Leaving Certificate, whilst 30.2% have completed Third Level education (i.e. to at least Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications [NFQ]). A breakdown of the educational attainment within County Longford is provided in Figure 2.10. Table 2.6: Educational attainment in the population over 15 years in County Longford (Source: CSO) Proportion Number of persons % of persons Third Level (Level 7+) 5,063 19.40% Third Level (Level 6+) 7,903 30.20% Up to Leaving Cert 13,627 52.10% Primary or Less 4,304 16.50% Masters of Higher 1,332 5.10% 2.5.2 Employment In April 2016 employment levels in County Longford (48.4%) were lower than the national average (53.4%), and unemployment at the county level (11.8%) was higher than the national average (9.1%), as demonstrated in Figure 2.11. As illustrated in Figure 2.12, pockets of relatively high unemployment were evident around Newtownforbes, Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon and Longford town, compared to other areas within the county. Other Disability Retired Student Unemployed Employed 9.5% 15.2% 11.8% 5.1% 9.9% 48.4% Figure 2.11: Population aged 15 years and over by principal economic status in County Longford (Source: CSO) No formal Education, 2.5% Not stated, 2.5% Doctorate (Ph.D) or higher, 0.3% Postgraduate Diploma or Degree, 4.8% Honours Bachelor degree Professional qualification or both, 7.5% Ordinary Bachelor Degree or National Diploma, 6.7% Higher Certificate, 4.9% Advanced Certificate/Completed Apprenticeship, 6.0% Technical or Vocational qualification, 10.6% Upper Secondary, 19.2% Lower Secondary, 16.4% Primary education, 14.0% 37County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Figure 2.12: Proportion of the population unemployed in County Longford per MD (Source: CSO) 38Longford County Council

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   Upon further examination, a notable difference between principal economic status of the male and female portion of the population in County Longford was also evident as demonstrated in Table 2.7. Specifically, there was a lower proportion of females at work and a higher proportion at home or looking after families when compared to males. In contrast, unemployment was relatively high for males. 2.5.3 Economy In addition to principal economic status, information on economic activity and employment by industry is useful in providing an understanding of industries and socio-economic circumstances within County Longford. The proportion employed in the three highest professional socio-economic groups (i.e. as employers, managers and/or professionals – Categories A, B and C as identified in Figure 2.13) was relatively low in county Longford (23.7%) when compared to the State (34.2%). Further, the proportion of semi-skilled and unskilled workers is higher in County Longford (14.3%) when compared to the national figures 12.2%). This may be associated with relatively high levels of education and the impact on incomes and affluence is discussed in further detail in Section 2.5.4 and Section 2.5.5 respectively. Principal Economic Status Male Female Total Male % Female % At work 8,461 6,711 15,172 54.00% 42.80% Looking for first regular job 197 177 374 1.30% 1.10% Unemployed having lost or given up previous job 1,932 1,395 3,327 12.30% 8.90% Student 1,513 1,549 3,062 9.70% 9.90% Looking after home/family 178 2,695 2,873 1.10% 17.20% Retired 2,468 2,314 4,782 15.70% 14.70% Unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability 861 796 1,657 5.50% 5.10% Other 63 55 118 0.40% 0.40% Total 15,673 15,692 31,365 100.00% 100.00% Table 2.7: Population aged 15 years and over by principal economic status in County Longford (Source: CSO) Figure 2.13: Socio-economic groups by reference person in County Longford (Source: CSO) A Employers and managers B Higher professional C Lower professional D Non-manual E Manual skilled F Semi-skilled G Unskilled H Own account workers I Farmers J Agricultural workers Z All others gainfully occupied and unknown 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 - 4,415 1,512 3,717 6,503 4,477 4,158 4,674 2,146 3,145 8,640 388 39County Development Plan 2021–2027

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    There are a range of industries present throughout the County Longford that support the local, regional and national economy. Table 2.8 illustrates the industries that people are employed in and illustrates that ‘Professional Services’, ‘Commerce and Trade’, ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Other’ industries are the most dominant industries with over three quarters of the population employed in those sectors. 2.5.4 Household Income Disposable income is the amount of income after tax is deducted, that is available for spending and saving. It functions as an important measure of the ability of a household to purchase their own home (i.e. housing affordability). The weekly and annual disposable incomes at national level from the CSO’s Household Budget Survey 2015-2016 have been adjusted to county level based on application of the ‘inflator/deflator’ rate. Table 2.9 indicates that in 2016 (the same baseline as the 2016 Census), after taxes, about one third of the households in Longford (the first three deciles) have an average annual disposable income of €20,921. Industry Male Female Total Total % Agriculture forestry and fishing 1,075 84 1,159 7.60% Building and construction 792 49 841 5.50% Manufacturing industries 1,868 698 2,566 16.90% Commerce and trade 1,513 1,530 3,108 20.50% Transport and communications 618 138 756 5.00% Public administration 446 483 929 6.10% Professional services 793 2,521 3,314 21.80% Other 1,291 1,208 2,499 16.50% Total 8,461 6,711 15,172 100.00% Table 2.8: Persons at work by industry and gender in County Longford (Source: CSO) Income Range Average Weekly Disposable Income (State) (€) (2015-2016) Adjusted Average Weekly Disposable Income (State) (€) Percentage of Households in Each Category (State) Average Annual Disposable Income (State)(€) Longford County Deflator Longford Average Annual Disposable Income (€) 1st Decile 197 199 9.8% 10,357 0.850 8,803 2nd Decile 324 329 10.6% 17,131 0.850 14,561 3rd Decile 466 473 10.5% 24,613 0.850 20,921 4th Decile 594 603 10.4% 31,364 0.850 26,659 5th Decile 726 738 10.3% 38,380 0.850 32,622 6th Decile 866 880 9.9% 45,736 0.850 38,875 7th Decile 1,026 1,038 9.6% 53,974 0.850 45,877 8th Decile 1,216 1,222 9.7% 63,547 0.850 54,014 9th Decile 1,473 1,473 9.6% 76,615 0.850 65,122 10th Decile 2,229 2,217 9.6% 115,300 0.850 98,003 Table 2.9: Calculation and Distribution of Average Annual Disposable Income per decile in County Longford in 2016 40Longford County Council

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