DFI Infographic IRELAND

Issued on March 4 2019

       Disability Profile: Ireland[1]

Population

13.5% of the population of Ireland, or 643,131 people have at least one disability.

Age

Their age profile is:

 0-14                  59,086

15 – 24              53,465

25 – 44              123,638

45 – 64              182,554

65+                      224,388

 

Type of Disability

A difficulty with pain, breathing, or any other chronic illness or condition

 296,783

Difficulties with basic physical activities

262,818

Learning difficulty

156,968

Mental health

123,515

Deafness or serious hearing impairment

103,676

Intellectual disability

66,611

Blindness or a serious vision impairment

54,810

 

Education[2]

 In 2016, only 13% of people who have a disability were in education compared to 19% of the general population in Ireland.[3] For those whose education had finished:[4]

  • 31% did not progress beyond primary education compared to 13% of the general population.
  • Only 16% had completed upper secondary compared to 20% of the general population.
  • Only 13% had completed further education compared to 16% of the general population.
  • Only 20% had completed higher level education compared to 36% of the general population.

Employment

  • 22% of people who have a disability were at work compared to 53% of the general population.

Transport

  • 24% of people who have a disability did not have access to a car or van compared to 12% of the general population.

Housing

  • 15% of people who have a disability lived in social housing compared to 9% of the general population.[5]

 

[1] All statistics in this infographic are based on Census 2016 data from www.cso.ie, along with special tabulations requested by DFI.

[2] Primary and less includes no formal education, further education includes vocational/technical certificate and advanced certificate/ completed apprenticeship, higher education includes Higher Certificate, Ordinary/Honours Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma/Degree, and Doctorate. Data based on special tabulation from CSO and Statbank.

[3] % of total education ceased and not ceased and for people aged 15 years and over.

[4] Data is for highest level of education completed for people with a disability whose education has ceased.

[5]People aged 15 years and over, who were renting from a Local Authority or a Voluntary Body.