People living in deprived areas across Ireland are significantly more likely to report poor health or disability, according to new research from Pobal.
The agency works on behalf of the Government to support communities and local agencies to achieve social inclusion and development.
Pobal said the findings demonstrate the need to address health inequality gaps and ensure strong provision of health and social care services in less affluent areas.
It found that people living in the most disadvantaged areas are four-and-a-half times more likely to report "not having good health" compared to those in the most affluent areas.
People living in the most disadvantaged areas are twice as likely to report having a disability compared to those in affluent areas.
Children growing up in extremely disadvantaged areas have reported disability rates which are only observed among people nearing retirement age in affluent areas.
The report also found that deprived urban areas have a slightly higher rate of disability compared to deprived rural areas
Pobal's Research and Policy Manager Alana Ryan, who co-authored the report, said that "rural areas have a slightly lower disability rates than in urban areas".
The research cross-referenced data from Census 2022 against the Pobal HP Deprivation Index and found a "striking" relationship between the levels of deprivation in an area and the rates of reported poor health and disability.
