Page 10 - Re-imagining our Region

8 RE-IMAGINING OUR REGION
table 1
Our Region
—Key Facts
economy
68.8%
37k 23%
90%
GVA per person against the national average. We are still in recovery from the nancial crisis of 2008.
The number of unemployed people in the region – well over the 19% national average.
The average decline of numbers employed in each business sector during the recession.
education
WIT ITC NUI
23% The percentage of people in the region with a third-level quali cation, compared
to a national average of 29%. 11.3% The average school dropout rate com-
pared to national average of 9.9%.
Talent retention in the region is cited as a key development concern, with the lack of jobs and low levels of entrepreneurship common issues.
We are home to Waterford Institute of Technology, the Institute of Technology Carlow (Wexford campus) and the Nation- al University of Ireland (Kilkenny Campus), third level colleges with specialisms in hu- manities, research, innovation, technology, creativity and regional development.
The percentage of micro-businesses in Waterford alone which are micro-enter- prises, accounting for 23% of employment.
We struggle to retain talent and attract inward investment – as our industries restructure and the Irish economy continues to struggle.
creative and cultural industries
health and well-being
Below Most health indicators are slightly below
1,700
KEY FEATURES
tourism
CONTRIBUTES
LESS currently under-leveraged and contrib-
The number of creative industries iden- ti ed in the region by our regional map- ping project, commissioned for the Three Sisters 2020 bid.
Clusters in glass, ceramics, artisan foods are features of the region.
A range of interagency approaches for culture-led development have already commenced in the region and will be delivered through our new Regional Cultural Strategy.
National the national average with marked dispari- Average ties across the region.
15,600+ The number of people in Waterford who have a disability: 14% of the population.
33% The percentage of people with a disability in employment in Kilkenny, compared to
63% of persons without a disability.
Homelessness is increasing – tripling in Kilkenny in less than 3 years, with close to 200 people in this position.
population
Tourism, while growing, in the region is
354k The total population in the Three Sisters Region. Waterford: 113,795, Kilkenny:
95,419 and Wexford: 145,320 people re- spectively (2011 Census).
34k
10%
1,700+ The number of Irish language speakers living in the Gaeltacht region in Waterford
County.
utes less to our economy than other Irish regions.
SPEND DECLINE
€143m €198m
While visitor numbers are up, their % spend in the region has declined on 2013 gures
The number of non-Irish nationals living in the region – we are an increasingly inter- cultural region.
Revenue delivered to the local economy by the 744,000 overseas visitors to the region in 20145.
Revenue delivered to the local economy by the 922,000 domestic tourism trips in the same year.
A priority across the region is to improve the region as a destination and increase overnight stays.
The percentage of non-Irish nationals in the population of Waterford (12% in Kilken- ny). Almost 10,000 people speak a foreign language as their rst language.
5 Failte Ireland Regional Tourism Facts 2014; revised 2016. 2015 regional statis- tics are not available at this time.