Widening gap between disadvantaged communities across Ireland

Almost 200,000 people now live in areas classed as either very or extremely disadvantaged, with urban areas such as Cork and Dublin containing more of the extremes of highly deprived or highly affluent areas.

New data showing the widening gap between disadvantaged communities in Ireland and the rest of the country makes for “sobering” reading, a Government minister has said.

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Joe O’Brien described the findings from the 2022 Pobal HP Deprivation Index as “stark” and “demands all of us in Government to redouble our efforts”.