Population
The age distribution of the population in the Drogheda area and its hinterland is shown in Figure 1. It shows the large young population in the area that was typical of the whole country as measured in the 1996 Census.
This profile is quite similar to the national average, indicating similar demographic dependency ratios with a somewhat higher current requirement for third level education in the Drogheda area than its population would suggest according to national ratios. However, in common with the rest of the country, this figure shows that the birth rate was falling priority the 1996 Census.
Splitting the population by gender reveals a somewhat unexpected difference between males and females. Due to higher longevity, it is usual for females to constitute a larger proportion of the population in older age groups. However, although females make up 50.6% of the population overall, the age profile for males is more heavily concentrated in the lower age groups than expected. Males account for 51.3% of the population under 20, and 35.5% of males are in this age group. (excerpt from Bacon Report, pg.12)
Socio-economic profile
At the 1996 Census, the town had a lower employment rate and higher unemployment than the surrounding areas and than the national average. However, the reverse was true for the St. Mary’s DED. Labour force participation, at 56.4% in the town was high, due primarily to a low propensity for full-time education among those aged 15+. This trend was reversed as the area is expanded into the Environs of Drogheda and participation in education in both St. Peter’s and St. Mary’s was high.
The number of people on the live register in Drogheda currently stands at 2,197. This is a fall of over 30% since mid 1999. The proportions of this accounted for by males and by under 25’s are close to the national averages.
Education levels in the Drogheda are a re somewhat below national averages. This is particularly noticeable in the Municipal Borough and in St. Peter’s. The biggest shortfall is in third level degrees, which has been reached by only 6% of the population in the town compared to a national average close to 10%. This is in keeping with the conclusions reached from the data in table 2.5.
Analysis of the population according to the socio-economic group of the head of population shows some interesting differences in the population of the area. Table 2.5 indicates that a ‘hallowing-out’ of wealth has occurred in Drogheda. In Drogheda M.B., 20.3% of the population are in the higher income ABC groups compared to 23.2% in the whole 5 km area. Conversely, 48.4% of the Drogheda area are in the manual EFG groups compared to 45% in the greater area. Both of these figures are high by national levels. Table 2.6 shows that a socio-economic divide exists in the town. On the Northside, only 39.4% of heads of households are in the ABCD group (Professional, Managerial & Other non-manual) compared to 54.8% in St. Mary’s on the Southside. The strategic plan for economic development will need to take this into account to ensure that its consequences do not polarize the town further along this division.
Disposable income in the region at 98% of the average for the country was the 3rd highest in the country in the Survey, being exceeded by Dublin (£325.15) and the mid East (£297.84). State transfers were the 2nd highest in the country after the Border region.
Economic Activity: Agriculture and Fishing
Farm size in the 15 km. region around Drogheda is above the national average. This tends to be correlated with a higher degree of viability and higher farm incomes. However, this may not be as important in the Drogheda region as in many parts of the country, as the town has not traditionally been as reliant on farm income for its viability as is the case in many Irish towns.
Fishing is not a major industry in the immediate Drogheda area. However, the industry is important in Clogherhead where a valuable catch is landed. In 1998, 764 tonnes were landed at Clogherhead, equivalent to 0.25% of national landings. This was worth £1.1 million in 1998, equivalent to 0.75% of the industry, up from 0.65% in 1996.
(excerpts from Bacon Report p18)
Economic Activity: Manufacturing and Services
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The Census of Industrial Production provides information on manufacturing industry in Ireland. Two points should be noted. The first is that it includes only firms with in excess of 2 employees. Second, the lowest level of dis-aggregation is country level. Furthermore, it is not possible to analyse for many variables at country level. For example, sectors cannot be compared at country level.
At first sight, the figures in Table 2.11 are surprising. There appears to be a very large disparity in productivity between Louth and Meath and the rest of the country. The answer however is the impact of a very small number of sectors on these figures. If activities such as Irish Concentrates are removed, then the averages for Louth and Meath are much closer. In summary, these tables suggest that industry in these counties is not atypical of the country as a whole.
In as far as a local cluster may exist – and the evidence for a vibrant cluster is not strong – it may be in the food sector. The area is not removed as major agricultural producer, compared to more southerly parts of the country, but a number of food firms have emerged in specialist processing sectors. These tend to be niche players and, as a result, are somewhat insulated from the extreme difficulties that are confronting the larger, commodity-type firms that dominate the food sector in Ireland. However, it is unlikely that these are in a position to generate the type of spin-off and agglomeration effects that would be required for a dynamic cluster to emerge.
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Like the manufacturing sector, service firms also are mostly concerned with local markets and contain a good proportion of professional and business services firms as expected in a large town. As pointed out by Drogheda Partnership however, the importance of distribution is clear. This is a relatively low value activity in most cases and cannot generally grow faster than the local economy i.e. it follows rather than leads economic activity. It is noteworthy that there are no national service firms headquartered in Drogheda. As is usual, most service firms tend to be small so a better indication of employment in services in the area is available from the 1996 Census data in Table 2.13.
This shows that employment in services in the Drogheda area is close to the national average, apart from public administration. However, when compared to tons with population of 10,000+, employment in services in Drogheda is lower than expected and is higher in manufacturing.
National Development Plan
Drogheda Development Plan 1999
The Plan relates exclusively to the Borough of Drogheda and expresses the policy of the Corporation to consolidate the regional role of Drogheda. This is to be achieved by encouraging and facilitating the development of the industrial, commercial, shopping, entertainment and communication sectors within the Town to the extent justified by its location in the hierarchy of urban settlements within the North East Region. It is also the policy of the Corporation too:
- Encourage and facilitate the development of Drogheda as a center of economic, social and cultural activity for the benefit of the population of both the Town and its hinterland.
- Reinforce the central core of Drogheda as a commercial, social and cultural center of the Borough and to realize its potential by encouraging its development and conversation.
The Plan observes that the proposed treatment works at New Town will provide secondary wastewater treatment capacity for a design population of approximately 67,000 persons, plus potential expansion and capacity for a population of 100,000 persons. This is sufficient to cater for the drainage demands of the Borough significantly into the twenty-first century. Excess capacity in public water supply also permits the accommodation of future water demands from within the Borough and hinterland significantly into the twenty-first century.
The Plan is therefore satisfied that adequate lands have been zoned for employment and housing purposes for the Plan period and that further expansion can be catered for.
The Plan notes that future improvement in expansion of retail and service activity within the Town Centre area will very much depend on improvements in traffic management and the provision of off-street car parking facilities.
The Plan notes the proximity of Drogheda to recreational facilities and archaeological and historic sites. However, Drogheda’s full potential as a tourist destination has yet to be realised despite, its historical, architectural, archaeological and natural heritage, together with the strategic location and proximity to the Boyne Valley and other local amenities. The Plan suggests that the preparation and implementation of a detailed Heritage Tourism Plan for Drogheda with community and local business support would help to improve the tourist potential image of Drogheda as an important tourist centre.
The Plan notes the success of the Urban Renewal Act but anticipates the need for further financial incentives to stimulate general substantial re-investment within sections of the City centre area that have been the subject of a lack of investment and limited development activity over recent decades.
The Plan notes the recent investment in Drogheda Port and its capacity to provide sufficient additional berthage and storage facilities and Port related industry down river. However, it indicates that the longer-term strategy for a deep-water berthage facility on the South Bank at Mornington has been set-aside for the foreseeable future.
(excerpts from Bacon Report p4 - 7)
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(from www.gunne.ie)
Links
Scotch Hall
Laurence Street Shopping Centre
Communications
(excerpts from Bacon Report p42 4.4,4.6 & 4.7
“Drogheda is strategically placed on the main N1 road linking Belfast and Dublin, this road has been upgraded to motor way standard and is supported by an excellent rail network. It is 50 kms north of Dublin City centre and only 39 kms from Dublin’s international airport. Rail: The Dublin/Belfast rail line stops in Drogheda with almost 20 trains per day and a journey time to Dublin as short as 30 minutes on some services. This service has recently been improved with new trains capable of speeds of up to 90 mph and are similar in terms of comfort and facilities to the Eurostar, which links London, Paris and Brussels. Air: Dublin Airport is 30 minutes drive from Drogheda and provides an extensive range of services to meet the needs of international passenger and freight requirements. Belfast Airport is approximately 70 miles away. Seaports: Drogheda has its own port. Also within close proximity is Dundalk port, just 30 minutes away and Dublin port, which is 1 hours drive. All offer freight services to meet the needs of industry.”
(from IDA Website)
