Increase in jobless figures

THE amount of people signing on in Clare increased by more than 350 in the last month of 2010.
There were increases in the numbers at all of the county’s social welfare offices, with the overall total increasing from 10,251 in November, to 10,619 in December.

In Ennis, the numbers went from 5,663 to 5,816; in Ennistymon, from 1,637 to 1,708; in Kilrush, from 1,447 to 1,517 and in Tulla, from 1,504 to 1,578.
The number signing on in the county has almost trebled since September 2006, when it was 3,686. The current figure is 215 higher than the equivalent in December 2009, while there has been an increase of more than 5% since September.
While Minister for Social Protection, Eamon Ó Cuív, blamed the rise on seasonal factors, Clare TD Timmy Dooley acknowledged that the problem is very significant. “There are always seasonal factors but there is little doubt that the figure is too high.
“I am conscious that the Government have to try to find ways to increase employment. It is incumbent on all State agencies to work with companies to try and retain employment. For sure, the IDA are doing a good job at attracting companies but there is a need for a targeted effort to support existing companies,” Deputy Dooley said.
He said that while many young people are leaving the country, it is an option that isn’t always available. “Some young people are emigrating but for most young people, who are married and who have young families, emigration is not an option. When young people go, it is awful to see it happen but it is something that isn’t even an option for many. It has to be the goal for all to restore confidence and to get the conditions right for business so that more jobs will be created,” he added.
Fine Gael’s Pat Breen said there is a real jobs crisis in Clare. “Over the past two years, unemployment has increased by 41.61% in this county. This crisis in employment is having a devastating effect on people’s lives. Indeed, these figures would be even higher were it not for the huge number of young people who are emigrating from the county every day.”
He said December should be a relatively good time for jobs. “These latest figures are particularly worrying, given the fact that December is generally a month when consumer spending rises and jobs become available, particularly in the retail sector.
“December’s bad weather had a huge effect on small businesses including shops and restaurants and the situation could be even bleaker at the end of January, when many businesses may be forced to let staff go,” Deputy Breen said.
He criticised the Government for not putting an emphasis on jobs.
“Fine Gael warned the Government prior to last December’s Budget that they would be making a mistake if their sole focus was on fixing the deficit and fixing the banks without having any strategy to drive enterprise and jobs.
“At the centre of our alternative budget was a credible growth and jobs strategy which would tackle the scarcity of credit for small businesses; the need for strategic investment in broadband and energy and put in place immediate measures to help businesses survive by cutting PRSI, abolishing the travel tax and cutting VAT on labour intensive activities,” he said.