Dubliners have most disposable income in the State

DUBLINERS have the highest average disposable income in the State, and the gap between the richest and poorest is widening.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show people living in the Dublin region have €23,298 after taxes are paid, up 6.3pc year on year, and some 14.5pc higher than the State average of €20,334.

This compares with €17,641 in the Border region, a difference of €5,657.

And the ‘County Incomes and Regional GDP 2015’ report says the gap is growing over the longer-term.

“Dublin continues to remain the only region with higher per capita disposable income than the State average during the entire 2006/2015 period while the Midland, Border and West regions continue to earn less than the State average,” it says.

“However, this year for the first time since 2008 the Mid East per capita disposable incomes have exceeded the State average.

“Viewed from this longer term perspective, from 2006 onwards, the divergence in income between the regions and Dublin was at its lowest in 2010 but has continued to widen each year since then.”

Disposable income is defined as primary income plus social welfare payments, less taxes and social insurance contributions.

On a regional basis, the lowest level is in the Border at €17,641, followed by the Midlands at €17,846.

At a county level, only Dublin, Limerick and Kildare are above the State average, with Meath, Wicklow, Waterford and Cork just below.

The counties with the lowest disposable incomes are Donegal at €15,705, Offaly at €17,242 and Mayo at €17,390.

Year-on-year, Dublin regional incomes rose by €1,379 (6.3pc) while those of the lowest region, the Border, increased by €898 or 5.3pc.