Increase in numbers signing on

THE number of Clare people signing on the Live Register increased in June, rising from 9,518 in May to 9,708.
The number is lower than June last year, when it stood at 10,198 and the increase last month was due to seasonal factors.

Around one in five people on the Live Register are in work but only on a casual or part-time basis.
Men in Clare are more likely to be signing on than women, with the figures standing at 5,849 and 3,859 respectively.

The number signing on at Ennistymon actually declined in June, going from 1,424 to 1,418 but that was the exception. In Ennis, the number rose from 5,419 to 5,573, in Kilrush from 1,295 to 1,336 and in Tulla from 1,380 to 1,393. Youth unemployment increased, with the amount signing on aged under 25 years going from 9,518 in May up to 9,708.

While the figures aren’t as poor as 12 months ago, they are still stark and the ESRI this week warned unemployment could remain high for the rest of this decade. It has called for austerity to continue in the next budget, despite protestations from several quarters that after years of cuts, it’s time to ease off and prioritise growth.

Ennis Chamber CEO Rita McInerney acknowledged that providing for growth while trying to mend the public finances is “a difficult balancing act”, she said there is a need for some positive moves.

She called for “A cautious ease [of austerity], that would be done while still keeping an eye on the balance sheet and public finances so we’re going in the right direction in that regard but with some sort of initiative that would help in terms of spending”.

She said the reduction in VAT in the hospitality sector has helped stimulate that area of the economy and urged the Government to look at extending it to other sectors. Ms McInerney urged the Government to make efforts to ensure employers know about incentives available.

“There’s a move at the moment to bring about a simplifying of the PRSI system to incentivise employers to take on people from the Live Register and a big campaign needs to be put in place to communicate that to employers, that these incentives are there and they can avail of them. A lot of businesses have their heads down and are trying to get on with things and sometimes they need to be aware of the incentives that are available to them that would help their business and encourage them to take on people.”

Geoff Meagher, national president of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, has added his voice to the calls for some economic stimulus, which he feels the country’s young people will benefit from.

“We urge Government to provide funds to provide stimulus for the economy, thus providing hope for those in unemployment and our young people who continue to face the prospect of emigration. It cannot be all about austerity, we need hope. We need to be more creative in encouraging people to take risks. This includes our self-employed, who are encouraged by the State to ‘go it alone’ and if they fail, find it almost impossible to get support,” he said.