There are now more people with disabilities, and more people caring for loved ones with disabilities in both Carlow and Kilkenny.
The latest census 2016 figures, released by the CSO, are showing the figures in both categories increased in the five years since 2011.
13.4% of Kilkenny’s population put themselves down as having a disability – up from 12.5% the census previous.
In Carlow, the increase was much the same, going from 13.7% to 14.5% of the population with a disability.
Similarly, when it comes to people caring for loved ones in both counties, the percentages there have also gone up slightly.
2,268 Carlow people stated that they “provided regular unpaid personal help for a friend of family member with a long-term illness or disability” – equalling 4% of the population.
Meanwhile, in Kilkenny, there are now 4,321 carers, which is 4.4% of the county’s population, and an increase of almost 7% on the previous census.
There were 47 Carlow carers under the age of 15 and 85 in Kilkenny.
When it comes to health overall, the majority of both counties said that their health was either “very good” or “good”.
