Fingal is not only Ireland's fastest-growing county council area, but also its youngest.
The average age is 32.2 years - more than three years younger than the national average of 35.6, according to a detailed analysis of last year's census. The analysis, compiled by Fingal County Development Board, also shows that there has been a notable increase of 37 per cent in the number of children under four and a 20 per cent increase in the number aged five to nine.
With 16 per cent of Fingal's population under nine years of age, this makes it the county council area with the largest proportion of children in the State.
Its population has also grown dramatically to just under 240,000 - up by 22.2 per cent in just four years.
The age category 25-34 - those likely to be first-time house- buyers - rose by 46 per cent since 2002. "Anecdotal evidence shows this has been reflected in the demand and uptake of new housing throughout Fingal," according to the analysis.
"The population trends . . . clearly underline the need to continue to develop and improve a range of integrated services in transport, health, education and local government to meet this rapidly expanding part of the country.
"Fingal County Council is now providing services to almost 20,000 or 33 per cent more households than it was in 2002. This is the greatest increase anywhere in the State and it has led to an obvious increase in demand on the services which the local authority provides."
County manager David O'Connor said the county plan up to 2011 would underpin sustainable development. "Although many national infrastructure projects are beyond our direct control, we are working closely with the agencies involved to facilitate their delivery."
On the transport front, he said the council was doing what it could to facilitate the upgrade of the M50, delivery of an orbital road network, park-and-ride facilities, Metro North, Metro West, Dart services to Balbriggan, and rail services to Dunboyne and Navan.
