Comparisons of Population, Households, Occupations and other trends on Cape Clear Island since 1987 by Séamus Ó Drisceoil A number of surveys have been carried out since 1987 which illustrate how the Islands demography and economy has changed over the years. The methodology has been consistent throughout and based on local knowledge. The results and conclusions are set out below. 1987 1997 2005 2009 Population ( My figures) 137 147 118 107 Full Time Census 132 145 129 125 Year of nearest census (1986) (1996) (2002) (2006) 18 31 Part Time ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Total 137 147 136 138 The has been a very pronounced shift towards part time residency . Anecdotally this is related to a number of factors, not least the trend towards families substantially relocating to the mainland when children come to secondary school age. It also includes residents who have substantial employment off the Island and others who have substantial employment on the island requiring part time residency. The decline in full time residency is significant and a cause for concern. 1987 1997 2005 2009 Number of Households 54 55 54 54 Houses closed 87 to 97 16 17 houses opened 87 to 97 16 16 Pre school Children 4 9 6 3 National School children 16 14 12 12 Secondary & Third level 12 17 10 14 Full time Adult Education 1 1 No of 'Island' Households (one spouse born on island) 46 39 31 31 No of other households 8 16 23 23 Other Households - Irish 6 8 19 19 Other Households non Irish 2 8 4 4 Families with children under 12 11 12 9 8 Both spouses elsewhere 1 5 6 6 The number of year round households has remained remarkably stable over the past 20 years. There has however been a very marked and disturbing decline in the number of pre school children. There has also been a very marked shift in the number of households where both parents have moved to the Island which now account for over 40% of the households. This trend is even more marked amongst those households with children under 12 with 6 out of the 8 households in this category. The category of ‘non Irish’ households refers to households comprised solely of non nationals. Employment Trends 1987 1994 1997 2009 Adults surveyed 100 105 98 117 Retired with no other occupation 21 24 17 10 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Economically active 79 81 81 107 Breakdown of occupations Semi retired 12 13 10 14 Full time farming 6 5 5 1 Part time farming 23 18 15 13 Coláiste Samhraidh 10 9 9 8 Full time services ( including IT) 17 18 19 29 Full time fishing ( incl fish farm) 5 8 7 5 Full time Fish farming 0 3 3 2 FT Carers 12 10 9 14 S. welfare 11 12 8 12 Community employment 5 3 Full time tourism 1 2 3 2 Part time tourism 19 18 15 33 Craft work 7 4 6 5 Part time fishing 1 3 4 1 Other part time work 19 18 15 1 Construction ( incl part time) 0 2 4 11 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- 143 143 137 154 The figures continue to show a pattern of multiple employment. The increase in ‘full time’ employment is largely accounted for by the change towards part time residency so most of these employments are mainland based. Some of the ‘service ‘ employments are also partly or largely dependent on tourism. Given the culture of ‘part time employment the value of creating or maintaining year round part time employment cannot be under estimated. Houses 1995 1998 2009 Occupied 50 54 54 Summer Houses for rent 14 14 8 Private Summer houses 12 35 44 Poor condition 16 13 10 92 116 116 The number of households listed reflects a very significant improvement in the quality of housing generally. The survey lists only those houses deemed suitable for human habitation. A number of houses listed as in ‘poor condition’ in 1995 have either been renovated or have been excluded from subsequent surveys as they are no longer deemed suitable for human habitation. Conclusions There has been some very significant changes over the past 22 years. These include a significant influx of new residents but insufficient to halt the ongoing decline in the number of permanent island residents. This has been to some degree compensated by the increased trend of part time residents. The overall standard of the housing stock has improved overall and while traditional employments have predictably decreased there has been no significant decrease in overall employment or a change in the pattern of multiple occupations. The most pronounced and disturbing trend is the very marked decrease in the number of pre school children although it can be seen that a similar development had also occurred by 1987 and was subsequently reversed. We have been unable to locate the age profiles in the relevant years but anticipate that these will come to hand and will publish the comparative statistics at that time. Meanwhile we hope that the enclosed makes for interesting and sobering reading.