Gorey town, one of the fastest growing areas of population in the country.
Gorey town and district is growing at a stronger rate than the national and county average and while there are problems to solve, such as a shortage of social housing in the North Wexford area, evidence emerges that Gorey is now Wexford’s second busiest town, while the Courtown-Riverchapel area, population-wise in fourth place behind Wexford town, Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross, is set to have a population the size of the Barrowside town in the near future.
The newly released preliminary Census 2016 figures show that since 2011, the Gorey District population has grown by 7.3%, compared to a national average of 3.7% and a Co. Wexford figure of 2.9%.
The population of Gorey town (combining the Gorey Urban and Gorey Rural District Electoral Divisions) is above 10,000 for the first time.
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.
The Gorey District, with 2,226 additional inhabitants on 2011, accounted for over half of County Wexford’s growth of 4,285 residents.
Cllr Malcolm Byrne said: “North Wexford’s population continues to boom and we need to plan to ensure that the services available into the future can match that rapid growth rate. National and local government need to respond.”
Commenting Cllr Fionntan Ó Súilleabháin stated: “In the midst of a housing crisis with over 4,000 people in County Wexford seeking accommodation this should serve as a wake up call to the government parties and those who supported the the totally misguided and disastrous housing policies during the Celtic Tiger years.
“While many of these vacant units are holiday homes which are occasionally used, many others are not, and could be put to good use to help deal with the housing crisis in County Wexford.”
Full story in this week’s edition of THE GOREY ECHO.
