Economics
EU downgrades Ireland’s north and west to a ‘lagging region’
Area which includes Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan and Mayo faces ‘a range of challenges’
The north and west of Ireland has been downgraded to a “lagging region” by the European Commission after becoming significantly poorer relative to the European average over recent years.
In a stark assessment, the commission said the region faced a range of development challenges including lower productivity and educational attainment, as well as a weaker skills base and business environment.
The region’s GDP per head of population has fallen from 82 per cent of the ...