Dormitory towns lose most commuters

DORMITORY TOWNS such as Celbridge, Greystones, Malahide and Balbriggan are the largest net losers of commuters to Dublin city, research from the Central Statistics Office has found.

Its study of Census 2006 data found that most large towns had more workers travelling to, than from, them in April 2006.

Not surprisingly, Dublin city gained the highest number of workers, with 104,865 travelling into the city while 56,752 residents worked outside the city.

In contrast, Greystones, which is 25 miles from the city, gained 949 workers but lost 5,232.

Swords, in north Dublin, had a resident working population of just over 15,000 but some 12,914 left the town for work.

Commuting workers caused an almost doubling of the working populations of Sligo and Castlebar, Co Mayo.

However, Carrigaline, Cobh and Midleton lost significant numbers of workers to Cork.

The CSO report profiled 27 towns, which accounted for 42 per cent of people at work, in April 2006.

It noted that Leixlip, Co Kildare, was “a notable exception” to the dormitory town pattern. It lost 5,362 commuting workers but attracted 5,794 workers.

Intel and Hewlett-Packard both have large plants in the town.

It also found that Leixlip’s working population had the highest level of education of the 27 towns, with more than two-thirds of workers educated to third level.

Killarney, Co Kerry, had the highest dependence on tourism, with 28 per cent of workers in the hotels and restaurants industry.

Athlone, which has an institute of technology, had the highest share of workers in education.

Meanwhile, Portlaoise, Co Laois, had the highest share of workers in public administration and defence, reflecting the importance of the prison in the midlands town.

Irish Times

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