fatima mansions

This section provides a demographic profile of Fatima Mansions,situating it in its local and national context.The most up-to-date data available has been used,drawing in particular on Small Area Population Statistics for 2002 published by the Central Statistics Office.

Fatima Mansions is located in Dublin 8’s south west inner city between Dolphin’s Barn and Inchicore. The estate is adjacent to a tram station on the LUAS line between the stops at St.James Hospital and Rialto.Reuben Street,which connects South Circular Road and the Luas line on James’Walk, bisects the flat complex.

There has been a steady decline over time of the number of residents in Fatima.In January 2005, there were 388 residents in total living in the estate, occupying 147 flats.In October 2001,by comparison, there were 685 residents living in 241 flats.

FATIMA USHERS USHERSDUBLINSTATE C D CITY

Population 1996 820 2571 1802 481,8543,626,087 Population 2002 650* 2708 1752 495,7813,917,203 Population -20% +5.3% -2.8% +2.9% +8% Change

* approx.

TABLE A:Population Change at Local,Ward,City and State Level, 1996–2002

The population of Fatima declined markedly by approximately 20% over the period 1996–2002. This compares with an estimated decline of 9.3% for the previous five years 1991–1996.The significant increase in the rate of decline of the Fatima population can be explained,apart from the fact that the most recent census had an interval of six years rather than the normal five, by the decision in 1998 to discontinue letting out vacated flats in the complex.

Over the same period,the population of the immediate areas increased overall by 2%,reversing the long-term decline over the previous period. There was also a similar increase of 2.9% in the population of Dublin City.The population of the State grew significantly during this time by 8%.

who lives in fatima mansions?

While the number of people living in Fatima has continued to steadily decline over the last number of years,the age profile of the population appears to have remained generally unchanged (Table and Figure B).There is still a relatively high number of young children living on the estate,however,with the number of young children aged 0–5 years (13%) over twice the national level (6.8%).While research had shown that half of the population of Fatima was in the highly dependent under 15 years bracket in 1998,by 2005 this proportion has reduced to 38.5% .It is still,however,considerably higher than that at ward (22%) and well over twice the national level (16.2%).

AGE FATIMA FATIMA USHERS C + D PROFILE (2005) % (2001) % (2002)%

0–5 50 (13%) 105 (15.3%) 437 (9.8%) 6–10 60 (15.5%) 98 (14.3%) 321 (7.2%) (10–18) 90 (13.2%) 11–14 39 (10%) 223 (5%) 15–17 23 (6%) 152 (3.4%) 18–45 124(32%) 213 (31.1%) 2395 (53.7%) 46–59 82 (21%) 148 (21.6%) 598 (13.4%) 60 + 10 (2.5%) 31 (4.5%) 334 (7.5%) Total 388 (100%) 685 (100%) 4460 (100%)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 0–5 6–10 11–14 15–17 18–45 46–59 60 +

Fatima 2004 Ushers C+D 2004 Dublin City 2002

TABLE AND FIGURE B:Demographic Profile of Fatima, Rialto and State 2001–2004

THE NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY STRATEGY (1997) IDENTIFIED LONE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS AS BEING

PARTICULARLY AT RISK OF POVERTY.

a new definition of family

In 2005 the most prevalent household type in the estate is that of a lone parent living with one or more children (Table C).At 37% of household units,this reflects a decline on the level in 2001 of 44% although it is still over three times the national level of single lone parent family households for 2002 (11.7%).One third of households are single people living alone.

By contrast,the number of older people living on the estate has dwindled significantly,from 4.5% in 2001 to 2.5% in 2005.The proportion of people in this category is substantially higher at ward (7.5%) and national (17%) levels.

While still relatively high compared to national levels,the age profile of the community reflects an increasing level of stability as compared with the profile in 1998.There is a closer correlation between the proportions of economically active age group (18-59) at a local (53%) and a national (63.4%),notwithstanding the level of continuing unemployment that exists in this area.

FATIMA FATIMA DUBLIN CITY STATE (2005) % (2001) % (2002) % (2002)

Single Lone 53 (37)% 106 (44%) 23% 11.7% Parent family Single People 47 (33%) 52 (21.5%) 29% 21.6% living alone Parents with 29 (20%) 48 (20%) 27.2% 38.4% children/adults Other/ 13 (9%) 35 (14.5%) 20.8% 28.3% Unknown TOTAL 142 241 (100%) (100%) 100% 100%

Table C: Household Profiles in Fatima (2005 and 2001),City (2002) and State (2002)

The ‘National Anti-Poverty Strategy’(1997) identified lone parent households as being particularly at risk of poverty.While it is difficult to determine the precise number of lone parent households (the figure may reflect an understatement due to the cohabiting of lone parents within their families of origin1 or an exaggeration due to the presence of other adults in households thus registered with the City Council),the continued prevalence in the number of such households is a source of concern.