Disposable income per head in Dublin was 16 per cent higher than the 1998 state average, while the south-east region was 12 per cent below the average, a household income survey of eight regional authority areas showed.

Counties outside of Dublin with high levels of disposable income were Limerick, Kildare, Galway and Cork, according to the survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office covering the years 1991 to 1998.

Income from self-employment was just under 15 per cent of total household income nationally but formed a higher percentage in counties where farming was more prevalent.

It amounted to more than 20 per cent in Kerry, Cavan, Tipperary, Monaghan and Kilkenny.

In contrast, the more highly industrialised counties of Dublin and Louth were 11 per cent and 11.3 per cent, respectively.