Shock statistics reveal Limavady deprivation

A report has found that 21 of 28 small areas in the Limavady are in the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in Northern Ireland

Responsibility for neighbourhood renewal is being passed from Stormont to the new Causeway Coast and Glens council next year, so a report on deprivation across the entire area has been prepared in advance of the handover.

The report reveals the scale of the task to renew many of the deprived neighbourhoods in Limavady and surrounding areas.

For instance, the report breaks the Limavady area down into 28 smaller geographic locations and examines each in terms of health, education, and employment.

It found that the vast majority - 21 from 28 - of the small areas in Limavady were amongst the most deprived in Northern Ireland.

It found that in one area, 40 per cent of residents had never worked. It found that there were higher than average long term health problems, disabilities, mental health issues and learning difficulties in most areas of Limavady.

It found higher than average numbers of people with no qualifications in most areas. It found higher than average economic inactivity, youth unemployment and long-term unemployment in many areas of Limavady.

The areas in Limavady considered amongst the most deprived are found in the Coolessan, Greystone, Roeside, Enagh and Dungiven areas.

The reports authors state: “A quarter of a million people (across NI) live in seriously deprived parts of our towns.”

Regarding Limavady specifically, the report notes: “18 of the 21 eligible small areas record a higher percentage population aged 16-64 with a long term health problem or disability that limits their day-to-day activities a lot. This ranges from 11.41 per cent in Gresytone to 25.32 oer cent in Coolessan, compared to the Northern Ireland (NI) average of 9.55 per cent and Causeway Coast and Glens (CCG) average of 9.08 per cent. It should also be noted that in Coolessan, whilst one small area records a figure of 25.32 per cent, an adjacent small area records a figure of 13.87 per cent, demonstrating the potential flux / variation within a small geographic region.

“16 of the 21 eligible areas report a significantly higher percentage of residents that state that they have very bad health than the NI and CCG averages. This ranges from 1.01 per cent to 2.67 per cent (both in Enagh) in comparison to 1.19 per cent (NI) and 0.97 per cent (CCG).

“The Northern Ireland average in terms of percentage of people that have a long term learning, intellectual, social or behavioural condition is 2.22 per cent, the Causeway Coast and Glens average is 2.01 per cent. 14 of the 21 eligible small areas record a higher percentage ranging from 2.11 per cent Greystone to 9.22 per cent in Roeside.

“Similarly, the Northern Ireland average in terms of percentage of people that have a long term emotional, psychological or mental health condition is 5.83 per cent with Causeway Coast and Glens average at 5.11 per cent. Research indicates that 18 of the 21 eligible small areas record scores higher than the NI average, ranging from 6.55 per cent in Enagh to 15.08 per cent in Roeside.

“18 of the 21 eligible small areas in Limavady record significantly higher percentage of people ages above 16 years old who have no qualifications. This ranges from a lowest score of 34.54 per cent to a high of 61.63 per cent compared to the NMorthern Ireland average of 29.12 per cent and CCG average of 31.36 per cent.

“In the Causeway Coast and Glens, approximately 21.33 per cent of individuals aged 16 and above achieve a level four qualification, in NI this figure is 23.65 per cent. In Limavady, 19 of the 21 eligible areas score significantly lower. Ranging from 28.98 per cent in Enagh to as low as 5.81 per cent in Greystone.

“All but three of the eligible small areas in Limavady record significantly high percentage of people aged 16 and above who have no qualifications. This ranges from a lowest score of 36.9 per cent in Enagh to a high of 61.63 per cent in Greystone, compared to the Northern Ireland average of 29.12 per cent and the CCG average of 31.36 per cent.

“In relation to unemployment, 17 of the eligible small areas in Limavady record a higher percentage of those aged 16-74 that are economically active yet unemployed than both NI and CCG. Lows of 4.97 per cent in Enagh offset by highs of 16.97 per cent in Greystone against the NI average of 4.96 per cent and CCG average of 5.59 per cent.

“When analysing those aged 16-74 that are economically inactive because of long-term sickness or disability, we see that percentage reaches a low of 7.44 per cent in Enagh and a high of 33.33 per cent in Roeside acorss 19 of the eligible areas compared with 7.27 per cent in NI and 7.01 per cent in CCG.

“Levels of unemployment for 16-24 year olds (youth unemployment) are higher in 13 of the 21 eligible areas compared to the NI averages of 28.94 per cent and CCG average of 28.81 per cent. This ranges from 30 per cent in Coolessan to 50 per cent in Enagh.

“12 of the 21 eligible areas present a higher percentage of 16-74 year olds that are long term unemployed than the NI and CCG average. This ranges from 46.43 per cent in one small area to 66.67 per cent of residents in another small area, compared with 44.98 per cent NI and 45.85 per cent CCG.

“In 2011, the 86.7 percentage of all births in the Enagh One Super Output Area were to unmarried mothers, the highest of all super output areas in Causeway Coast and Glens. Gresytone SOA recorded a figure of 75 per cent.” 