CSO release statistics on families and childcare in Westmeath and Roscommon

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that the youngest age at which the majority of people in Westmeath were not living with their parents was 25 years in 2022.

The CSO has today released Census statistics related to families, childcare and private households in Westmeath and Roscommon.

The statistics look at the family situations and living arrangements of the population and the different types and sizes of family composition and household and childcare arrangements.

Adults Living with Their Parents

In April 2022 in Westmeath, 9,814 adults, or 14% of all those aged 18 and over in the county, were still living with their parents which was an increase of 1,492 (18%) since 2016.

Nationally, there were 522,486 adult children aged 18 years and above living with their parents (13%).

Overall, almost 25,000 adults living with their parents were unpaid carers. In Westmeath, 462 (5%) were unpaid carers.

In 2022, 24 was the youngest age at which the majority of people nationally were not living with their parents. This was up from 23 in 2011. In Westmeath this was 25 years.

Of all adults living with their parents nationally in 2022, 57% were male. Similarly in Westmeath, 57% were male.

One in six (16%) of all adults in the Kinnegad Local Electoral Area were living with their parents in April 2022, the highest rate in the county.

In April 2022 in Roscommon, 6,863 adults, or 13% of all those aged 18 and over in the county, were still living with their parents. This was an increase of 984 (17%) since 2016.

In Roscommon, 384 adults living with their parents were unpaid carers (6%.)

The youngest age at which the majority of people were not living with their parents in Roscommon was 26 years.

Of all adults living with their parents in Roscommon in 2022 58% were male.

Almost one in seven (15%) of all adults in the Athlone Local Electoral Area were living with their parents in April 2022.

Families

There were 24,204 families in Westmeath in April 2022, up from 23,234 (4% increase) in 2016. The average number of children per family in the county was 1.38.

Westmeath’s families included 11,202 married couples with children and 1,793 cohabiting couples with children. A further 3,362 families with children were headed by single mothers and 661 by single fathers. There were also 5,653 married couples without children and 1,533 cohabiting couples without children.

The number of same-sex couples in Westmeath in April 2022 increased to 141 compared with 78 in 2016. Nationally, there were 10,393 same-sex couples.

There were 5,799 families in rented accommodation in the county (24%, a 2% increase on 2016.

There were 17,992 families in Roscommon in April 2022, up from 16,958 (6% increase) in 2016. The average number of children per family in the county was 1.34, which was the same as the national average.

Roscommon’s families included 8,405 married couples with children and 1,165 cohabiting couples with children. A further 2,145 families with children were headed by single mothers and 475 by single fathers. There were also 4,835 married couples without children and 967 cohabiting couples without children.

The number of same-sex couples in Roscommon in April 2022 increased to 68 compared with 28 in 2016.

There were 3,323 families in rented accommodation in the county (18%) which was a 3% increase on 2016.

Private households and Living Alone

The average household size in Westmeath in April 2022 was 2.78 people, slightly above the national average of 2.74 people.

The number of people living alone in the county grew from 7,482 to 7,841, an increase of 5% since Census 2016.

There were 13,484 people aged 65 and over living in the county in April 2022. Of these 3,446 were living alone. This was an 24% increase in those aged 65 and over living alone.

The average household size in Roscommon in April 2022 was 2.65 people.

The number of people living alone in the county grew from 6,420 to 6,928, an increase of 8% since Census 2016.

There were 12,333 people aged 65 and over living in the county in April 2022. Of these 3,441 were living alone. This was an 18% increase in those aged 65 and over living alone.

Childcare

There were 19,779 children (aged under 15) living in Westmeath in April 2022, four more than in 2016.

Nationally, there were 1,012,287 children aged under 15 (up 5,735 since 2016.) Almost one in three, 331,783, were in some form of childcare. In Westmeath, 6,343 (32%) of those aged under 15 were in childcare.

There were 2,458 children in a crèche/Montessori/playgroup/after school service in the county (39%). Just over one in four (1,819) were being cared for by an unpaid relative or family member. A further 1,211 (19%) were being cared for by a childminder (in the childminder’s home.)

There were 14,101 children (aged under 15) living in Roscommon in April 2022. This was 439 more than in 2016.

In Roscommon, 4,684 (33%) of those aged under 15 were in childcare.

There were 1,971 children in a crèche/Montessori/playgroup/after school service in the county (42%). Just over one in four (1,366) were being cared for by an unpaid relative or family member. A further 783 (17%) were being cared for by a childminder (in the childminder’s home.)

Commenting on the results, Statistician in the Census Division, Deirdre Lynch, said:

“Profile three shows us how our families and living arrangements are evolving and changing. It looks at changes in the numbers of families with and without children and the number of same-sex couples. The results show that the number of families has increased but the average number of children per family has fallen slightly, having remained unchanged in the previous two censuses. For the first time this profile also includes details of the numbers of children under 15 years of age in childcare as well as the types of childcare and the number of hours attended.”