KCC Report Reveals North Vs South Divide In Kildare

A new report released by Kildare County Council has detailed employment, job types and key towns, as well as expected future growth across the county.

A new report has revealed elements of divide between the North and South of the county.

The new report released by Kildare County Council has detailed employment, job types and key towns, as well as expected future growth across the county. 

Key areas of the new Strategic Employment Locations Study and Employment Strategy reports have used both Census figures and new data to paint a picture of Kildare residents and key trends seen in the county.

One section of the report focused on towns in the county and existing employment statistics, taken from Census 2022, as well future growth projections for 2040.

Firstly, the findings showed divide in terms of unemployment, with the highest unemployment figures seen in south Kildare, and the highest recorded in Athy (14.6%).

In contrast, Maynooth was the lowest with 5.4%.

The report also outlined sites for future growth and employment across the county.

With a focus on two towns in both the north (Naas, Maynooth) and in the south (Newbridge and Athy), it showed differences between future investment.

In south Kildare, Littleconnell in Newbridge is expected to create 3,605 jobs, and Gallowshill on the Dublin road in Athy is expected to generate 1,623 jobs.

While in north Kildare, Laraghbryan west and Straffan road in Maynooth is expected to create 9,542 extra jobs and the NorthWest Quadrant and Naas South in Naas is to create 8,840 jobs.

It is also notable that these key projects in north Kildare have been identified for various enterprise and employment uses.

Maynooth and Naas share six of the same identified project uses, including professional Services, ICT and High Tech, Research Development and Innovation, Specialist Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing and Biopharma.

While they differ in one use, as Naas identified for Light Industry and Logistics and Maynooth for Life Sciences.

In Athy and Newbridge, the lands are outlined for industrial and warehousing uses, with less proposed uses than their northern counterparts (3 and 4 respectively), with Light Industry and Logistics, Advanced Manufacturing and Production, Specialist Engineering identified for both areas, with BioPharma only identfied in Newbridge.

It is also anticipated that there will be a population boom by 2040 in Kildare with Naas and Maynooth’s population to increase by 35 and 66 per cent respectively, with the likes of Newbridge and Athy having more modest increases of 15 per cent.

The full details of the report on Kildare Today can be heard below: