CO CLARE has recorded a population increase of 7.2 percent in the space of six years.
Preliminary results from Census 2022 have detailed that the number of people living in Clare is now at 127,419 up on the 118,817 recorded in 2016. This is broken down into 64,733 females and 62,686 males.
Issued by the Central Statistics Office, the findings showed a natural increase of 3,122 and an estimated net inward migration of 5,480. 7.6% was the average increase in population recorded across the country.
Clare’s total housing stock is 58,148 as per the Census, a rise of 2,369 (4.2%) but which stands below the national average of 6%. 735 less vacant dwellings are in Clare, the tally of 5,369 represents a drop of 12%.
County councillors over the past twelve months in Clare have been vocal in their criticisms of the population projections set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) which was adopted by the Southern Regional Assembly. Population projections estimate between 129,500 and 131,500 will live in Clare by 2026 and 134,000 – 137,000 by 2031 under the RSES.
Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) remarked following the preliminary Census results, “I wonder can we now throw the totally outdated NPF and RSES out the window with regards to projected population allocations for the core strategy of our new County Development Plan”. The Kilkee representative felt the projections were out of date before the Development Plan had even been adopted.
