Midlands, south east population set to grow

The midlands and south east regions are expected to experience strong population growth over the coming years, while the population of Dublin is expected to decline, according to a new study from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

According to the CSO's Regional Population Projectionsreport, released this morning, regional population growth rates will vary from a low of 0.7 per cent each year for Dublin to a high of 2.8 per cent for the mid-east region, which comprises Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

The midlands region (Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath) is expected to see population levels rise by 2.3 per cent per annum to 2026, while the number of people living in the south-east (Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford and Waterford) will grow 1.8 per cent.

The annual average national increase projected by CSO to 2026 is 1.5 per cent, if recent patterns of internal migration continue.

However, CSO said today that if the country returns to a more traditional patter of internal migration, such as that experienced up to the mid-1990s, there will be less variation in regional rates with the population of the mid-west (Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary) and south-west (Cork and Kerry) rising by 1.1 per cent per annum and the population of the mid-east growing 2.3 per cent each year.

All eight geographic regions are projected to show population increases between 2006 and 2026 under the traditional internal migration scenario. However, if the recent migration pattern continues, Dublin is expected to experience a drop in population as more people move out of the city.

CSO believes the population could decrease by as much as 100,000 people in the capital up to 2026.