Millstreet Poles ahead in numbers

Millstreet, Co Cork, has the highest proportion of Polish residents of any town or village in the country, new figures show.

It is one of a number of findings contained in a detailed breakdown of the 2006 census results in the form of small area population statistics (Saps), which were made available yesterday.

The outskirts of New Ross has the next highest proportion (10 per cent), followed by Ballinrobe, Co Mayo (8.8 per cent) and Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan (8.7 per cent).

When the population of towns and other areas is measured by the proportion of foreign nationals in general, Gort, Co Galway, has the highest concentration (40 per cent).

Other towns with high proportions include Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo (36 per cent), the outskirts of Monaghan town (26 per cent) and Oldcastle, Co Meath (25 per cent). Towns and villages with the lowest include the outskirts of Lismore, Co Waterford (0.7 per cent), outskirts of Edenderry (1.1 per cent) and Ardnacrusha, Co Clare (1.2 per cent).

The figures also show dramatic differences in the proportion of people using public transport around the country. Of all urban areas, the Willow Bank area of Dún Laoghaire has the highest percentage of people using public transport at 50 per cent, followed by the Dartry Road area of Rathfarnham at 47 per cent. In contrast, the area around Slieveheale in Waterford city had the lowest at just 1.1 per cent.

The level of home ownership also varies dramatically. The highest was in the area around College Road and Farmleigh Woods in Castleknock with 97 per cent and the lowest was in the Grafton Street and city centre area of Dublin, with just 1.2 per cent.

Small area population statistics for the country can be accessed on the CSO's website at www.cso.ie