Ticking social timebomb on east side of Galway City

A stark warning was issued this week that serious social problems will occur in the city’s new eastern suburbs in the future due to a combination of unemployment, social isolation, and a glaring absence of facilities for young families.

The ARD (Ardaun, Roscam, Doughiska) Family Resource Centre has undertaken a detailed analysis of the 2011 Census figures for the area which suggests an “overwhelming picture” of serious problems for future generations.

The detailed 19-page report, undertaken in conjunction with researchers at NUI Galway, has led to calls for Galway City Council to improve physical and social infrastructure in an area where almost half the population is non-Irish.

“Our report details some challenging and disturbing statistics about the multi-cultural suburb (Doughiska) in which 47% of our community was born outside Ireland,” said Paul Frecklington, Project Coordinator.

“The area has a deprived physical and social infrastructure with a distinct lack of community facilities to provide basic support services, and build and develop a shared sense of place and identity.”

Mr Frecklington said strategic investment in core infrastructure would avoid many of the problems associated with areas that have high population growth, high unemployment, migrant populations, and a higher than average number of people in rental properties.

While 54% of the people of Doughiska are living in a family unit with children, compared to 35% in the city overall, there are clusters of people parenting alone in areas such as An Sean Bhaile, where over 30% of residents are lone parents.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune