| 1 |
Cork’s
demographic profile and population trends resemble the national
trend in many respects. However, there are a number of weaknesses.
Particularly noticeable is the uneven growth between different
parts of the country and the unbalanced age profile in rural
areas. There is a drain of persons in the 20 to 30 age groups
away from the rural areas. This is particularly the case among
females. The result is that while dependency rates are normal,
the number of females of child-bearing age in the countryside
is low and there is a very high proportion of unmarried males
in some areas. This has implications for the sustainability
of the population in some areas. |
| 2 |
Projections
indicate that the population of Cork County will increase
by between 12% and 26% depending on the assumptions made regarding
fertility and migration, in the period 1996 – 2021.
These projections suggest that the assumptions made about
fertility and migration will have similar effects on the size
of the growth that will be experienced, unlike national projections
where the level of migration has a much greater effect on
population growth than fertility assumptions. All areas
are projected to experience growth. However, this assumes
that existing weaknesses in the structure of the population
are overcome and that national trends dominate in the longer
term. |
| 3 |
Educational
attainment and the economic status of the population is also
close to the national average. However, there is some
dispersion around the average with areas near the city having
higher employment rates than the more peripheral areas.
Towns towards the north west of the county also have lower
employment rates. |
| 4 |
Agriculture
accounts for a very high proportion of employment in the county
while the proportion engaged in service sectors is well below
the national average. This is visible in all regions
apart from those in the commuter belt around the city, and
is particularly obvious in the Gaeltacht area. In addition,
employment in high-value service sectors is low away from
the city region. |
| 5 |
Incomes
data, while limited in availability, indicate that Cork has
mirrored developments in the economy on average. However,
it should be noted that this is a relative under-performance
compared to the greater Dublin area where the presence of
the city has been credited with having a major positive effect
on incomes. It is not clear that Cork, while participating
in the general boom, has had a similar impact on its hinterland.
|
| 6 |
Employment
data show that unemployment has fallen and Cork has achieved
a strong employment performance, even in comparison with the
rest of the economy. This performance has been important
in reducing long-term unemployment also. |
| 7 |
Agriculture
remains a very important part of the Cork economy. However,
its relative decline, and its absolute decline in numbers
employed, appears likely to continue. This has important
implications for the whole economy since the food industry
is particularly important in the county. In addition,
the parts of the county most reliant on agriculture are also
the less competitive areas as regards the development of alternative
sectors. |
| 8 |
Fishing
is also an important economic activity. The Cork industry
has performed well in recent years and investment has picked
up after a prolonged period of under-investment. However,
the long-term growth of the sector will depend on decisions
regarding fish stocks and quotas. |
| 9 |
The
Marine Institute has identified Cork and South Kerry as a
region with particular strengths in marine leisure. However,
although the West Cork coast has competitive strengths, development
to date has been sporadic, comprising mostly small individual
activities. As a result, the potential remains under
exploited. It is estimated that this sector supports 14,500
jobs but that this is only a small part of what is possible.
As a result, it has been targeted for investment of £130 million
in coastal and inland facilities. |
| 10 |
Taking
the whole county, there is a strong manufacturing base in
Cork with notable clusters of FDI on the outskirts of the
city. However, an important issue is the overwhelming
reliance on food companies and the lack of large companies
in other sectors away from the vicinity of the city and its
outskirts. If the areas close to the city are netted
out, the manufacturing structure appears a lot weaker with
relatively few large companies in the leading sectors.
This means that the manufacturing base is unlikely to provide
a sufficiently dynamic basis for growth and could be facing
into a period of considerable structural change if decline
is to be avoided. |
| 11 |
The
presence of the city means that a number of large service
sectors have developed in Cork. However, away from the
city, the number employed in services is low. Estimates
suggest that there are in the region of 50,000 people working
in services in Cork County. |
| 12 |
The
general conclusion that emerges from this report is that while
Cork County reflects many of the trends that are observed
in the economy in general, there are a number of weaknesses
and disparities within the county. The most notable
demographic weakness is the apparent loss of a sizeable proportion
of the rural population in the 20 – 30 age group.
In terms of the economic structure, the continuing high reliance
on agricultural employment and the food industry in some areas
may mean that painful structural adjustments are inevitable.
In summary, the problems are regional in the sense that the
benefits of having a large urban area in the county are not
reaching many parts of the county meaning that people have
an incentive to move away from these areas towards the city.
|
| 13 |
An
overview of the challenges for development have been drawn
together. The main issues identified and discussed are:
Adverse Demographic Developments
Challenges facing Cork City and Environs
Uneven Sector Development & Very High Dependence on Agriculture
outside the main Urban Centres.
Low Educational Attainment in North & West of the County
Social and Quality of Life Issues associated with Access problems
to
Infrastructure & Services in County Cork. |
| 14 |
Turning
to strategy, it is necessary also to be clear on what are
the objectives, which a successful strategy needs to meet
and what kind of society should follow from its implementation?
Clearly, the economic and social well-being of rural communities
needs to be improved significantly if they are to be attractive
places to live compared with larger urban settlements and
be able to adapt to ongoing changes in the economy and society.
At the same time the County as a whole would benefit from
a vibrant City, well developed in scale and offering a full
range of services to support the economic, social and cultural
life of the County. |
| 15 |
Themes
identified in the Future Search process of stakeholder participation,
undertaken in connection with the Strategic Study of North
& West County Cork, broadly confirm the objectives and
constraints on development identified by formal economic analysis
of statistical material.
Thus, very high priority is attached to overcoming infrastructure
deficits, preserving environmental quality, improving social
services and participating in technology development and the
wider development of the Irish economy. |
| 16 |
Turning
to stakeholders’ vision of the future, the themes which emerge
revolve around improved transport, the creation of self reliant
communities with sustainable environments and in which there
is inclusive participation and community partnership. |
| 17 |
Therefore,
a number of objectives must be achieved, namely:
An Increase in living standards, measured in the first instance
in terms
of disposable personal income but extending also to a wider
range of
consumption possibilities and access to public services
like health,
educational and social and recreational possibilities;
A wider range of sustainable employment opportunities, reflecting
the
current availability of skills;
Access to education, training and lifelong learning possibilities
which
would enhance skills and enable people to take advantage
of higher
valued added employment, especially in the technology sectors.
Improvements in infrastructure, including roads, sanitary
services, rural
housing and services such as rural transport and child care
facilities.
|
| 18 |
With
the attainment of these objectives the possibility would
be created for vibrant sustainable communities with a range
in age, income and occupational groups that would be able
to fulfil the economic, social and cultural potential of
people living in them and in a manner that overcomes marginalisation
and isolation.
|
|
FOOT
NOTE
Anybody who wishes to get access to
the full Report can do so by contacting -
The Office of Community & Enterprise,
Floor 14,
Co. Hall.
Cork. |
