Dublin tops grade in broadband, Leaving

A CSO report published today notes that broadband access rates are twice as high in Dublin than some parts of the country, and that the capital has the highest rates of top Leaving Certificate grades.

The report, Regional Quality of Life in Ireland, examines variations in economic, social and environment variables at county and regional level, based on 2006 Census figures.

The survey points out that broadband access varied widely across the country, with 53 per cent of households with a PC in Dublin having broadband access compared with 22 per cent in the Border and Midland regions.

At county level, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown had the highest proportion of households with a PC (70.7 per cent), while Limerick City had the lowest proportion, 45.2 per cent.

The Dublin (16.7 per cent) and South-West (16.1 per cent) regions had the highest proportions of Leaving Certificate higher level A grades compared with a national average of 13.1 per cent.

By contrast, the Border (9.9 per cent) and Midland (10.1 per cent) regions had the lowest proportions. At county level, Cork (16.7 per cent), Limerick (14.9 per cent), Galway (14.3 per cent) and Kerry (14.2 per cent) had the highest proportions of A grades.

Cavan (8.6 per cent) and Leitrim (7.6 per cent) had the lowest proportions.

The Dublin (35.9 per cent) and Mid-East (30.8 per cent) regions posted the highest proportion of persons possessing a third level qualification, while the Midland, South-East and Border regions had the lowest percentages.

Across the State, the average number of primary pupils per school was 144.1 in 2006, according to the Census. The West region (87.3) had the lowest ratio; the Dublin region (260.1) had the highest.

The report also notes that in the 2006 Census, 15 per cent of all accommodation was vacant, with the Border (21.4 per cent) and West (20.5 per cent) regions, and counties Leitrim (29.3 per cent) and Donegal (27 per cent) posting the highest rates.

Galway City had the highest rate of rental accommodation (41.6 per cent), followed by Dublin (35.9 per cent).

Among other indices:

• The Mid-East (17.7 per cent) region and Dublin City Council (16.4 per cent) had the highest percentages of license holders with penalty points.
• The Dublin region had the highest gross value added per person at €48,580 compared with the lowest of €22,914 in the Midland region.
• Around 30 per cent of commuters in the Mid-East region travelled 25 or more kilometres to work compared with around 6 per cent in Dublin.
• The Dublin region had the highest percentage of non-Irish nationals at 14.5 per cent. At county level, Galway City (17.4 per cent) had the highest rates. Limerick County, Kilkenny and Waterford County had the equal lowest proportions.