Leitrim marginally below national average in Pobal HP Deprivation Index

Leitrim is marginally below the national average level of affluence according to the 2022 Pobal HP Deprivation Index. 

The Pobal HP Deprivation Index found that almost 19,000 small areas, including 163 in Leitrim, (50-200 households) were indexed leading to the development of a detailed map of the relative affluence and disadvantage.

The Index, which is Ireland’s primary social gradient tool, found a nationwide improvement in measures such as employment and population growth, with levels largely returning to those observed in 2006, however persistent disadvantage remains for many communities.

It uses data from Census 2022, analysing ten measures of an area’s levels of disadvantage. These include educational attainment, employment status and the numbers living in individual households.  

Anna Shakespeare, CEO of Pobal, said “The 2022 Pobal HP Deprivation Index is created to inform national policy and ensure that resources can be properly directed to where they are most needed. 

“There has been an overall improvement for the majority of communities in Ireland, however we must also recognise that this is not being experienced equally.

"At Pobal, we are committed to working on behalf of the government to support communities to combat disadvantage. 

“This tool helps to create an understanding of the challenge of disadvantage and where it is prevalent, which is an important step towards achieving social inclusion for all.”