This article is from page 14 of the 2005-08-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
PEOPLE in Clare are 1.1 times more likely to live in poverty compared to the rest of the country.
According to a Combat Poverty report, the Midwest is at the highest risk of poverty in the country, with those living in Limerick City 1.3 times more likely to live in poverty.
The study used a combined meas- ure that looked at both income levels and levels of enforced deprivation of basic necessities.
The income level for an adult is defined as below 60 per cent of the average income levels for the popu- lation and basic necessities include the ability to afford adequate cloth- ing, food and fuel.
The report showed that the Banner County’s unemployment rate was be- low the national average of 8.8 per cent, at 7.6 per cent.
The study also reports that more than a fifth of the Clare population have left school with no education or only primary education, while a quarter have third level education.
A total of 34 per cent of the popu- lation are dependant on others for food and shelter.
Meanwhile 3.1 per cent of Clare people are over the age of 65 and liv- ing alone, a figure similar to Limer- ae
The aim of the statistics, gathered through the national census for the report “Mapping Poverty”, is to in- crease the understanding of the loca- tion of poverty. The higher poverty rates were found to be in the Border, Midland and Western regions.