Family resources survey, Northern Ireland, 2005-06

A report entitled “Family Resources Survey Northern Ireland 2005-06” containing statistics for the period April 2005 to the end of March 2006, was published today by the Statistics and Research Branch of the Department for Social Development.

Its key findings include:

• The average number of persons per household is 2.6 in NI compared to 2.3 in the UK.
• NI has a lower percentage of single-person households (25%) compared to the UK (30%).
• Half of all properties in NI have a capital value (as at 1 January 2005) less than £100,000.
• 60% of household income in NI is sourced from Wages and Salaries, compared to 64% in the UK as a whole.
• NI households source the same percentage of their income from self-employment as the UK as a whole (11%).
• Benefit receipt is higher in NI (62% of benefit units) than the UK average (58%) but lower than the North East (64%).
• 45% of benefit units in one-parent families are receiving Income Support.
• 53% of benefit units with children are in receipt of Tax Credits.
• 57% of households where there is a single adult with children are renting their home.
• 6% of households in NI have no savings account or bank account, compared to a UK average of 3%. This is the second highest level in the UK, after East Midlands.
• 94% of single parent households have some sort of savings account.
• 43% of those receiving care stated ‘Retirement Pension (state and other)’ as their main source of income; 18% from employment; 15% disability benefits; 21% other benefits; 21% other benefits and 1% other.
• 41% of informal carers provide ’10 or more’ hours of care per week.
• Omagh & Strabane have the highest percentage households in receipt of at leat one benefit (86%). The District Council with the lowest percentage is Ards at 64%. The NI average is 76%.
• Derry & Newry & Mourne have the highest proportion of lone parent benefit units (9%). The NI average is 7%.

Notes to Editors:

• This survey collects detailed data on income levels, resources and financial circumstances of individuals and households for the period from April 2005 to the end of March 2006. The FRS has been carried out in Great Britain since 1992, but 2002-03 saw the introduction of Northern Ireland for the first time.
• Households interviewed in the survey are asked a wide range of questions about their circumstances. Other government social surveys, such as the Family Expenditure Survey (FES), also collect this data, but the FRS provides much more detailed information, and brings some topics together on one survey for the first time.
• Although the FRS is specifically of interest to DSD, other government departments and outside researchers will benefit from the availability of such a data source. The database can be accessed through the Data Archive of the University of Essex.
• Previous reports for Great Britain (1992 to date) are available on the DWP website and for Northern Ireland on the DSD website Further enquires should be addressed to: Statistics & Research Branch, Level 4, James House, Gasworks Business Park, Belfast. Tel - 028 9081 9937; Fax - 028 9081 9961; E-Mail - srb@dsdni.gov.uk