Social and Economic Issues in Northern Ireland

This assignment explores pressing social and economic issues facing Northern Ireland. It delves into the complexities of poverty and social exclusion, highlighting trends and disparities across age groups using official statistics from reputable sources. The analysis also examines suicide rates in Northern Ireland, contextualizing this concerning trend within the broader social landscape. The assignment encourages a critical understanding of the challenges faced by communities in Northern Ireland and emphasizes the need for effective policy solutions.

Sociological report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Political, social and economic construction of NI................................................................1
1.2 Changes and trends in society...............................................................................................2
1.4 Implication of changers over health and social care sector...................................................3
3.3 Possible implications of social and health issues for health and social care services
providers......................................................................................................................................4
3.4 Social and health issues in terms of their impact on health and well being of individuals...4
3.4 How social and health issues are socially constructed..........................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Illustration Index
Illustration 1: Change in the number of adults in poverty in NI......................................................6
Illustration 2: Poverty rates for different age groups.......................................................................6
Illustration 3: Suicide deaths registered at NI..................................................................................7
Illustration 4: Suicide registered as per age group at NI..................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Sociology can be determined as the study of society or social behaviour in which it
includes development, networks, institutions and organization (Mitchell, 2013). In order words,
it is a type of social science which make use of various methods of critical analysis and empirical
investigation which is helpful to develop knowledge related with change, order and disorder.
Present report is about Northern Ireland which is part of UK. This country is well known for
mountains, glacial valleys, Norman castles, Christian monuments, golf courses, etc. This report
covers current political, social and economic construction of Northern Irish society. Further, it
covers trends in societal changes which take place in this region. Lastly, it also covers analysis of
social and healthy issues in terms of their impact on health and well being of the individuals.
1.1 Political, social and economic construction of NI
In terms of both population and area, Northern Ireland is smallest when compared with
other countries in UK. In this context, it consists of 2.9% of total population of UK and 5.7% of
total area. The total population recorded in the year 2016 was 1,865,450. Further, there are large
number of Protestants who speak dialects of English. In NI, most commonly spoken language is
English (McGarry and O'leary, 2013). Further, they also have regional language which is Ulster
Scots and Irish. The national identity of Northern Ireland is complex. Most of the people from NI
have British national identify. As per the data it has been found that in the year 2014, 24,394
babies where born and 14,678 people die and 8550 couples got married.
Development of statistic is widely used for making policies for the areas of education,
housing and healthcare. In addition to this, the data is also used in allocating funds to NI
executive. NISRA (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) can be determined as one
of the principal sources that provides official statistics and social research for NI. Ultimate aim
of this agency is to make sure that cost effective registration and high quality data are gathered.
Political contraction: The troubles can be determined as common name that is used for
ethno-nationalist, which is a conflict among Catholics and Protestants (Keating and Loughlin,
2013). Republicans or Irish nationalist who are generally Catholics consider themselves Irish and
they want Protestants who consider themselves British to leave UK and to join united Ireland. On
the other hand, Protestants want to NI to remain in UK. There were many campaigns were held
to resolve the conflict.
1

Economical construction: As per the history of NI there are long run issues in areas of
social and political. Further, over all economy of the country is very small. This is due to low
area and population. However, the growth of economy is high when compared with other parts
of the UK (Crotty and Schmitt, 2014). Further, the rate of employment is raising at an increasing
scale. The rate of unemployment is high. However, the condition is improving still there are
about 30% of people who have potential psychological illness. Further, there are about 25% of
people who are economically inactive and 16% who are employed.
1.2 Changes and trends in society
With the change in time, there are different set of changes that has raised within the
trends that are being followed at Northern Ireland. In this context, below given are the changes
that has occurred at different areas:
Family types: In rural areas and at different religions, premarital chastity is followed. All
the people are expected to abstain from sex until they are married and that also with people who
are married by religious ceremony in church. Most of the marriages are done by matchmakers
and there are various experienced calculations made (Burrell,2016). For the year 1920s,
marriages of post famine become infrequent. As per the data there were many single people
when compared with married once. People, specially at rural areas had small plots and they do
not prefer their children's to get married so as to avoid subdivision of land. However, it was in
the year 1970s when the rate of marriages raised. They followed the nuclear family model.
Slowly when more marriages starting taking place, then they started to live in smaller families.
Further, in the year 1977 the birthrates decreased to 1/3. The culture of nuclear family was
followed in both families of Protestants and Catholics. However, Catholics had much large
families which compared with the families of Protestants (Hall, 2012). Presently, there are many
people who have started up with the culture of living alone or couples staying together even
without marriages.
Employment: There is high discrimination that take place at NI among Catholics and
Protestants. In this context, Catholics were forced to go to London in search of job. With this
respect, it can be stated that most of the Catholic Christians were unemployed. Further, there are
laws which state that the women who get married had to resign their jobs, this was followed from
1937. However, this practise came to an end by the year 1977 in which Employment Equality
Act was made.
2

Age: It was in the year 1920s when inheritance customs were changed. This occurred
after famine when farmers felt that they were betrayed from the land and it also stopped the
birthright to families. Farmers wanted to hold down what ever they had but they had to subdivide
it to their sons (Roche and Barton, 2013). As per the subdivision, the part of land farmers had
was given to one son and it is not necessary that it will be given to older one. This was not
possible until people do not reach the age of 70 and at this age these people are given pension.
Until then, they children had to inherit land and there was no place given at home and they
would emigrate and search for job.
1.4 Implication of changers over health and social care sector
Social determinants of health can be stated as the collective set of conditions in which
people are grown up, born work or live. In this context, it includes financial security, housing,
built environment, health system and education. As per the date it has been found that life
expectancy of male is 73 years. One of the key priority for the NI executive is of reducing the
gap of life expectancy among the most and least (Philo and Miller, 2014). For this purpose, there
are many government policies that are developed. All the policies that are built in relation with
public healthy strategy is based on the concept of social determinants of health. In this context,
there are different set of issues that are considered which include drug, smoking, sexual health,
obesity, suicide, etc. as per the Health and Social care, it has been found that the more focus is
done over public health and social well being. As there is low rate of employment rate and due to
this reason there is low living standards and poverty. This can be determined as one of the
reasons due to which it causes poor health condition and health inequalities. Further, there is
significant impact over the health due to recession. The employment is high and the saving are
also low. This is giving raise to cost for other necessities like transport, fuel and food. The rate of
domestic violence is high over women (Kliot and Waterman, 2015). Further, there are many
other condition of health issues that are not recorded as at NI there is no proper press who could
bring out the information. As per the rates of hospitals is low when compared with the total
number of people who have health issues. There are conditions in which patients had to send
back because of the elderly people at community and homes. One of the major issue that is faced
by people of NI is related with the mental health problems. As per the case about 30% of
population have this issue. Further, the issue of Troubles have caused many people to lose their
lives and individuals who get injured.
3

3.3 Possible implications of social and health issues for health and social care services providers
As per the implications of social and health issues, there many changes in the practices
that has been taken place within the health and social care providers. In this context, there are
various treatments that are provided by the professionals (Buchanan, 2016). Further, there are
situation in which people do visit to other part of the countries to make sure that they get proper
treatment for their health. People visit to developing countries as the cost for cure is less. Due to
the social and health issues, health care professional have to engage themselves to be ready so as
to make sure that they will be able to provide people with proper services. There are various
other issues that are faced by healthcare providers and these have to be considered in order to
make sure that high quality services can be provided. As stated above, one of the major issue that
is faced is mental issues.
In this context, there are about 30% of people who are facing this type of problem.
Moreover, social issues that is being faced by most of the people is among Protestants and
Catholics which is also known as The Troubles. Further, the total number of hospitals are not
enough as that proper care can be provided (Budge and O'Leary, 2016). In such conditions, there
are situations in which patients were told to leave the hospitals even if their treatment is not fully
taken care off. Further, the health care professional are also less and this is another type of issue
that are faced by people. People who want to consult a doctor need to wait longer so that they
turn can come. Further, there are also cases in people do understand the problems that other face
when they want to consult a doctor. In order to avoid that people take treatment as per for their
own experience. This type of steps made the issues or illness more serious and do not get the
proper treatments which they have desired for.
3.4 Social and health issues in terms of their impact on health and well being of individuals
There are many serious issues that are faced by individuals because of social and health
issues. One of the major issue that is faced by people is related with the metal health due to the
troubles. Further, the violence is also high that has also affected the psychological well being
(Agnew and Muscarà, 2012). The issues related with troubles is related with behavioural and
underachievement adjustment. Further, the behavioural issues are also associated with
deprivation, gender and poverty. Moreover, there factors are closely related with level of
experience of political violence. There are various other impact over health of individuals that
4

they have to face. In this context, it includes lack of support from the and proper services from
health care organizations. Due to conflicts, psychological condition of individual. Further, large
number of people are affected by The Trouble and this has made them to negatively affect the
health conditions. Issues related with divorces cases and alone parents are increasing. As per the
date it has been found that average age of people getting married is between 26 to 30. Moreover,
UK has the highest rates of divorce cases. In this context, people are scared to divorce and they
take proper care but there are situations in which people get affected due to some sort of
misunderstanding and they get separated (Crotty and Schmitt, 2014). Earlier, proof was required
when any of the person files a case for divorce. However, the changes in law has made that has
focused on making sure that married couples can get separated from each other and so there are
high rate of single parents. As per another law that is Divorce Reform Act 1969, if couples are
separated form more that two years, then they can file of a divorce. Further, the divorce are
granted on the grounds of adultery and it is important for the women to prove them and only then
it will be filed and approved.
3.4 How social and health issues are socially constructed
As per the issues that are face by people in relation with social and health condition, there
are different set of negative impacts (Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Northern
Ireland, 2014). Due to the Trouble, the employment rate of people is very low at Northern
Ireland. In this context, below given are the data for the same:
5

From the above, given data, it can be stated that over all poverty in Northern Ireland is
increasing and this is due to the issues or the conflict among Catholics and Protestants. Catholics
are not preferred and they have to visit other countries in search of job.
More specifically, the rate of poverty can be divided into different age groups which will
be know the rate of age groups that are affected by poverty (Monitoring poverty and social
exclusion in Northern Ireland, 2014). These are due to the social implications are negatively
affecting. Below given are the poverty rate as per age groups:
6
Illustration 1: Change in the number of adults in poverty in NI
(Source: Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland, 2014)
Illustration 2: Poverty rates for different age groups
(Source: Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland, 2014)

When the member of family increases, then needs and requirements also increases. This
is a type of issues that are faced by people who have children and families. As per the data the
rate of poverty is raising at an increasing rate.
Another condition of issues that are faced at NI has coursed to mental issues (Suicide
deaths in Northern Ireland highest on record, 2014). In this context, the rate of suicides are very
high and it is still increasing. Below given are the rate of suicides on yearly basis:
From the above, given data, it can be started that the rate of suicides are increasing and it
is due to the issues that are caused at socially and other health related issues. Below given are the
suicides that are done in different age groups:
From the above data, it is clear that youngsters are highly involved in suicide and this is
due to many reasons like job, increasing rate of divorce, unemployment, etc. (Suicide deaths in
7
Illustration 3: Suicide deaths registered at NI
(Source: Suicide deaths in Northern Ireland highest on record, 2014)
Illustration 4: Suicide registered as per age group at NI
(Source: Suicide deaths in Northern Ireland highest on record, 2014)

Northern Ireland highest on record, 2014). Another thing that can be determined is that at all the
age groups, suicide is done.
CONCLUSION
From this report, it can be articulated that government alone can not perform or enforce
law or any other strategies until there is no support from general public. It is important that both
public and government should take combined steps so that issues or conflicts can be solved.
Further, it is important for the government that they understand the condition and take
appropriate solution that will be helpful to solve the issue. Moreover, it is also important to
provide awareness and steps should be taken through which rate of divorce can be reduced. In
addition to this, steps should be taken in order to provide employment opportunity to people.
8

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Agnew, J. and Muscarà, L., 2012. Making political geography. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Buchanan, S., 2016. Transforming conflict through social and economic development: practice
and policy lessons from Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. Oxford University
Press.
Budge, I. and O'Leary, C., 2016. Belfast: Approach to Crisis: A Study of Belfast Politics 1613–
1970. Springer.
Burrell, K. ed., 2016. Polish Migration to the UK in the'new'European Union: After 2004.
Routledge.
Crotty, W. J. and Schmitt, D.A., 2014. Ireland and the Politics of Change. Routledge.
Hall, P. A., 2012. The economics and politics of the euro crisis. German Politics. 21(4). pp.355-
371.
Keating, M. and Loughlin, J., 2013. The political economy of regionalism. Routledge.
Kliot, N. and Waterman, S. eds., 2015. Pluralism and political geography: people, territory and
state. Routledge.
McGarry, J. and O'leary, B., 2013. The politics of ethnic conflict regulation: Case studies of
protracted ethnic conflicts. Routledge.
Mitchell, M. C., 2013. Religion, identity and politics in Northern Ireland: boundaries of
belonging and belief. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd..
Philo, G. and Miller, D. eds., 2014. Market killing: What the free market does and what social
scientists can do about it. Routledge.
Roche, P. J. and Barton, B. eds., 2013. The Northern Ireland question: myth and reality.
Wordzworth Publishing.
Online
Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland. 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/monitoring-poverty-and-social-exclusion-northern-ireland-
2014>. [Accessed on 7th December 2016].
Suicide deaths in Northern Ireland highest on record. 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.thedetail.tv/articles/suicide-deaths-in-northern-ireland-highest-on-record>.
[Accessed on 7th December 2016].
9

10