Dublin Southwest Inner City: High Crime, Drug Deaths, Low School Attendance Revealed in Report
A report by economist Barra Roantree reveals Dublin's southwest inner city faces severe deprivation, with crime and drug deaths twice the national average, and fewer than 40 per cent of children attending secondary school. The findings underscore a critical need for targeted investment to address significant social and economic challenges in the area.
A new report by Trinity College Dublin economist Barra Roantree highlights severe deprivation in Dublin's southwest inner city, encompassing most of Dublin 8 and the Liberties. The area, with a population of approximately 45,000, including over 7,000 schoolchildren, accounts for almost half of Dublin's inner-city residents classified as living in «extremely or very disadvantaged» circumstances.
Key findings reveal crime rates and drug poisoning deaths are twice the national average. The Kevin Street An Garda Síochána District recorded 106.7 crimes per 1,000 population in 2024, compared to 40.4 nationally. There were 22 drug poisoning deaths in 2021. Fewer than 40 per cent of children attend secondary school, the lowest in any Dublin electoral or urban area, with third-level progression rates less than half the national average (36 per cent for 2024 Leaving Certificate students versus 80 per cent nationally).
Average household pretax income in 2022 was €60,036, 16 per cent lower than the Dublin average. The high crime rate imposes annual costs of approximately €60 million. Roantree advocates for targeted investment, similar to the €8 million annual funding for the North-East Inner City (NEIC) initiative. This report coincides with the government's appointment of Robert Watt as Dublin's new regeneration «tsar» to improve security and living conditions.