Gorey population tops 10K

LAST week’s Census figures revealed that the rate of growth in Gorey town and district is far outstripping the national average.

The newly released preliminary Census 2016 figures show that since 2011, the Gorey district population has grown by 7.3 per cent, compared to a national average of 3.7 per cent and a Co. Wexford figure of 2.9 per cent.

The figures led local councillor Malcolm Byrne, right, to call on national and local government to ensure that resources are prioritised for North Wexford to deal with that continued growth. ‘ The population of Gorey town, combining the Gorey Urban and Gorey Rural District Electoral Divisions, is above 10,000 for the first time,’ he said. ‘At 10,366 people, this is 742 more than the 9,624 recorded for the same area in 2011.’

The combined populations of Courtown (2,622) (+11.3% on 2011) and Ardamine (3,665) (+13.2%), which includes the Riverchapel area, is now 6,287.

New Ross, incorporating New Ross Urban, Rosbercon and New Ross Rural, saw a small decline in population and now stands at 8,256. ‘On these continued trends, Courtown/Riverchapel could be the same size as New Ross within two decades,’ said Cllr Byrne.

The Gorey District, with 2,226 additional inhabitants on 2011, accounted for over half of Co. Wexford’s growth of 4,285 residents.

‘North Wexford’s population continues to boom and we need to plan to ensure that the ser- vices available into the future can match that rapid growth rate,’ said Cllr Byrne. ‘National and local government need to respond. For example, the downgrading of Gorey Garda Station in light of these figures was clearly wrong and needs to be reversed and the County Council’s failure to prioritise social housing provision for the Gorey District where there is greatest demand, and yet only 16 per cent of the stock, must be tackled.’

He added that given that Courtown-Riverchapel is one of the fastest growing areas in the State and is now bigger than Gorey town was twenty years ago, a concerted effort to ensure commensurate services are provided must be made.