Demographic dimensions of sustainability in the Republic of Ireland

This chapter addresses demographic sustainability in the context of net migration trends for the school leaving and young working age groups in the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland registered one of the highest rates of population growth in Western Europe, during the 1970s. Evidence from the Republic of Ireland reported here illustrates, however, that demographic issues and especially the age and sex structure of migration in marginal regions merits attention. Official information relating to migration for Ireland is available from two main sources: census place of birth data and a question included at each census since 1971 which elicits place of residence precisely one year before the census date. The evidence of net migration trends by size of place among the school leaving and young working age groups highlights a number of issues that are pertinent to the sustainability of rural populations in the Republic of Ireland.