Midlands, south-east ‘deprived regions’

THE midlands and south-east are emerging as the new disadvantaged areas, a conference on rural development heard in Tullamore, Co Offaly, yesterday.

Experts outlined dramatic changes in rural Ireland over the past decade with a significant economic performance fall in the midlands and south-east regions.

In contrast, counties in the Border and western counties have maintained their performance and are significantly ahead of the midlands and south-east.