Chapter 2 - Socio-economic Highlights

Analysis of socio-economic conditions in Limerick City and County is an important part of the evidence base for the LECP. It presents the situation of Limerick based on key indicators of development and well-being and shows how we compare with the national average and / or other counties. This helps to identify issues that need to be addressed and where change is needed. A general socio-economic analysis of Limerick City and County can provide useful information. In order to understand the development issues presenting, however, it is necessary to look at variations across the local authority area – for instance, differences between and within urban and rural areas such as the core of the city, the suburbs, disadvantaged neighbourhoods, rural settlements, remote rural areas etc. – and differences by social characteristics of groups in society such as women and men, young people, older people, people with disabilities, people from different social and cultural backgrounds.

The socio-economic analysis will be updated as new data become available. An important source of local data is the Census of Ireland. Data at Small Area Level (the lowest unit of analysis) from the 2022 Census will not be fully available until 2023. The baseline conditions for the LECP will be updated as these data become available.