Last year, Ireland underwent some of the most rapid social and demographic change ever, statistics for 2004 released yesterday indicate.
Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show foreign nationals make up 5.8 per cent of the population, the number of divorced people trebled from 9,800 to 35,000 between 1996 and 2002, while the proportion of cohabiting couples rose from 3.9 per cent in 1996 to 8.4 per cent in 2002.
Despite the pace of change, there were also signs that some social issues show little sign of being tackled. Despite almost half of all women being in the workforce, the CSO revealed their wages were considerably less than their male colleagues.
Both hourly rates and weekly salaries were lower, with the average industrial pay packet for women of €406, almost €200 less than a man's.
The figures are contained in the statistical yearbook of Ireland (2005), which is available on the CSO's website (www.cso.ie) or from the office directly.
In social terms, figures showed that the number of separated (including divorced) persons increased from 87,800 in 1996 to 133,800 in 2002. The increase reflects, to a large extent, the legalisation of divorce.
Limerick city had the highest proportion of separated people at 11.7 per cent, followed by Dublin city 10.6 per cent. Co Cavan had the lowest number of separations at 4.9 per cent of those who married.
People are also getting married later, with the average age at marriage up by two years between 1996 and 2002 for both brides and grooms.
Despite high levels of economic growth, figures show poverty is still a major issue. Almost 23 per cent of the population were considered at risk of poverty, with persons living alone and members of lone-parent households most at risk of poverty at 44.9 per cent and 42.3 per cent respectively.
From 1999 to 2004 there has been a rise of 80 per cent in expenditure on social welfare payments, although the total number of recipients of unemployment support payments declined by 12 per cent.
Increasing numbers of foreign nationals, meanwhile, account for more of our population. Of the 5.8 per cent of the population who were not Irish, almost half (2.7 per cent) were UK nationals. Other EU nationals were the next most numerous categories followed by other Europeans, Asian, African and US nationals.
Irish people are also travelling more, with visits abroad by Irish residents up 43 per cent since 2000. Planning permissions granted for new apartments more than quadrupled from 1997 to 2004.
The number of new private cars licensed for the first time in 2004 increased by 4.6 per cent on the figure for 2003.
Education standards also appeared to improve, with the number of third-level students up by 105 per cent between 1990-91 and 2003-04.
Figures for last year showed 59 per cent of new entrants to third-level institutions were female.
Changing Ireland: CSO figures
Non-Irish nationals made up 5.8 per cent of the population
The number of divorced people trebled from 9,800 in 1996 to 35,000
Planning permissions granted for new apartments more than quadrupled from 1997 to 2004.
The proportion of cohabiting couples rose from 3.9 per cent in 1996 to 8.4 per cent in 2002
New private cars licensed for the first time in 2004 increased by 4.6 per cent on 2003
Visits abroad by Irish residents were up 43 per cent since 2000
The number of third-level students increased by 105 per cent over the last decade
Source: CSO Statistical Yearbook of Ireland (2005)
