DONEGAL has the lowest level of disposable income in Ireland according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office this week.

Donegal people were taking home an average of just ¤16,000 in 2004, compared to national average of ¤18,800, almost ¤3,000 more than that earned in Donegal.

Donegal earnings don't fare any better when compared to other counties in the border region which had an overall average disposable income of ¤17,500 per person. In Sligo the average disposable income per person was ¤18,330 in 2004 and in nearby Leitrim people were taking home an average of ¤17, 369 a year.

Disposable income is a defined as a person's total income, less expenses such as income tax, PRSI, mortgage repayments, health insurance, rent or interest on loans.

Dubliners have highest level of disposable income at ¤20,988, which is almost 12 percent higher than the rest of the country. Records show that in 2004 the average income per person in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Kildare was above the national average.

Seven counties were below 90 per cent of the average - Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Offaly, and Roscommon . The figures show that Donegal's level of disposable income in 1995 was ¤7,922 per person, which represented 87.2 percent of each individual's pay. The amount of disposable income has increased to ¤16,000 in 2004 but the percentage of disposable income has dropped to 85 percent.

The eight areas between 90 per cent and 95 per cent of the average were Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, Laois, Longford, Mayo, Leitrim and South Tipperary

The remaining areas - Clare, Waterford, Galway, Wicklow, Louth, Sligo, Westmeath and North Tipperary - were within five points of the average.