Cork city deprivation levels exceed national average - report

Cork city suffers from levels of deprivation higher than the national average, with much of the city’s north side suffering most, according to a new report looking at health and social inclusion in the city.

The authors of Cork City Profile 2014 say Cork city suffers from levels of deprivation that exceed national averages based on a wide variety of indicators.

Authors Tomas Kelly and Paul Hayes said the report "shows the nuanced and complex nature of disadvantage, and highlights that deprivation, social exclusion and negative health outcomes are mutually reinforcing in many respects".

The report found that there was "a distinct spatial component" to disadvantage in the city, with deprivation concentrated in the four areas identified by Cork City Council for inclusion under the Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (Rapid) programme.

Three of these four Rapid areas – Knocknaheeny/ Hollyhill/Churchfield, Blackpool/The Glen/Mayfield and Fairhill/Gurranebraher/ Farranree – are located on the city’s north side, with the fourth, Togher/Mahon, on the city’s south.

Four areas

The report notes the concentration of deprivation in these four areas as well in some other communities such as the Ballyphehane/Greenmount area on the south side which also scores poorly on indicators for social inclusion and health.

“These patterns of disadvantage have persisted for many years, and common characteristics of this disadvantage include above-average unemployment, low educational attainment, high levels of lone-parent families, ill health and high levels of disability,” said the authors.

The report, launched yesterday by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Ken O’Flynn, involved an analysis of the 2011 census and more recent reports on specific subjects to build up a profile of the city.

The study involved analysing data from the Cork city electoral area so suburbs such as Donnybrook and Frankfield on the southside as well as some parts of the northside, which are contiguous to the city but not administratively part of it, were excluded.

The study was developed by the council's social inclusion unit and the Cork Healthy Cities Steering Group to look at the city, which, according to the authors, has been greatly affected by recession since the last census, with unemployment almost doubling.

Valuable resource

Cork City Council director of services Valerie O'Sullivan said Cork City Profile 2014 would prove a valuable resource not just for the council but for everyone.

The report looks at Cork city under key themes – demography, economy, education and skills, diversity, families and living arrangements, housing, transport and the environment, deprivation, lifestyle and behaviours, and health outcomes.