This article is from page 6 of the 2007-05-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE latest figures from the 2006 Census show that areas that have enjoyed substantial holiday home de- velopments have suffered decreases in population.
The populations of Lahinch, Lis- cannor and Killaloe have declined since the 2002 census.
According to the figures, the popula- tion of Lahinch has dropped by three per cent, Liscannor has dropped by 34 per cent and Killaloe has dropped
by 12 per cent.
Cllr Martin Conway (FG) said that the census figures confirmed that the exorbitant price of property on Clare’s coastal resorts was making it impossible for young people to re- main in their homeplace and driving them out of the villages.
“As aresult, you have a drop in pop- ulation and the social consequences are that it will be difficult long-term to fill local schools and local football teams,” he said.
Cllr Conway said that it was “quite
ironic that while you have a drop of population in these areas, the house building for holiday homes that has been going on has been colossal.
‘The prices for property have spi- ralled out of all proportion and way beyond the means of locals.
‘The census also reflects the puni- tive planning regime in place where there 1s a two-tier system operating.”
He added that local people were chilefly affected by the ongoing house price rises.
“It 1s difficult for sons and daugh-
ters of local people to secure plan- ning, yet an out-of-town solicitor or accountant can write a cheque for 500,000 to buy a holiday home.
“*T believe that there should be a tax placed on holiday homes so that these areas can be provided with adequate facilities and money ringfenced for facilities such as playgrounds as these homes are vacant for 10 months of the year.”
The census also showed that En- nistymon suffered a drop in popula- tion of eight per cent. Kilrush suf-
fered a population loss of 1.6 per cent, while Kilkee’s population in- creased by 5.2 per cent.
The greatest leap in population was enjoyed along the corridor linking Ennis to Shannon.
Population around Ennis increased by 27 per cent, while that in Shan- non’s environs increased by 22 per ne
The population of Sixmilebrige increased by 25 per cent, Ennis in- creased by seven per cent and Shan- non increased by three per cent.