Carlow had the country’s second highest average for social benefits and other transfers in 2021 while Kilkenny had the lowest.
These are defined by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) as the social transfers to households made by the State, either in cash of in kind, which are intended to relieve households of certain financial risks or burdens.
The State average of €7,039 in social benefits per person sees nine counties below that point – Kilkenny’s at the bottom with a figure of €6,234.
Longford has the highest per capita at €8,751, followed by Carlow (€8,701) and Louth (€8,458).
Carlow also had the second-highest disposable income per person – it with Limerick bucking the national trend where others, whose disposable income is above the state average, now fall below the state average for social benefits.
In this regard, Kilkenny had the third lowest disposable income per capita with an index of 80.8 or €19,696 which is 19.2% below the State average with just Laois (80.7 / €19,659) and Donegal (79.0 / €19,253) lower. Carlow’s at 101.0, 0.9% above the State average.
