Details about the ethnic and cultural background of those resident in this State are given in the latest volume of the 2006 Census of Population. It shows a total population of 4,172,013 in April last year, of whom 3,645,199 people called themselves white Irish and 22,369 as Irish Travellers. Some 289,041 are classified as any other white, 49,525 as black or black Irish African, with 3,793 from any other black background. .
The Asian or Asian Irish comprised 16,633 Chinese and 35,812 of other Asian background. Those of mixed background numbered 46,438, while 72,303 people did not state their ethnic or cultural background. About 400,000 people are foreign born
These are tremendously useful and interesting statistics. They give the best estimate available of the numbers and types of people living in the State, according to their ethnic and cultural background. The classifications used were developed in consultation with groups involved in inter-cultural work. They combine ethnic and geographical criteria which are further explored when broken down by nationality. Thus Poles, Lithuanians and Latvians, Germans and French emerge as the most numerous EU residents here - except that they are substantially outnumbered by the 112, 548 UK citizens in residence. Of these most come from England and Wales, then from Northern Ireland and Scotland. In the same way thousands of Filipinos, Indians, Pakistanis and Malaysians fill out the other Asian category, in addition to the most numerous Chinese, not all of them come from the People's Republic.
Some of these national figures are much lower than those quoted impressionistically by embassies, trade unions or employer bodies dealing with immigrant populations. Numbers arising from Personal Public Service numbers can be quite misleading since they do not take account of continuous movement between Ireland and elsewhere in a fluid labour market. Thus the 63,276 Poles resident here last year can be supplemented by an estimated 10,000 more who consider they normally live in Poland but are regularly here. A figure of roughly 75,000 Poles is probably much more accurate than the 100,000 figure often loosely used in discussions.
These figures bear out those from surveys by other agencies. The fact that CSO figures tell us more about ourselves and our country is an exciting new phenomenon of Irish life. It is very important to establish accurate figures in planning for future labour markets, education, housing and health facilities. We still don't know how mobile the foreign- born population would be in an economic downturn. Most are likely to stay if they can.