Job loss figures blamed on firms using cheap labour

UNSCRUPULOUS employers who are exploiting cheap non-national labour are being partly blamed for a rise in unemployment in Tralee.

The Celtic Tiger may be roaring, but there are areas of Cork and Kerry where the number of people signing on the live register have increased, according to newly released CSO figures.

Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris said that in Tralee’s case some factories had closed down recently, but he added there was a number of other dimensions.

Mr Ferris said he had no problem with non-nationals working, but as long as they were paid the going rate, especially in the construction industry.

Nearly 200 more people were signing on the live register in the town last month, compared to the corresponding month in 2005. Mr Ferris said that Tralee traditionally had twice the national average unemployment and it was time something was done about it.

“The huge problem is that there has been no IDA investment in the south-west region, but particularly in Kerry,” the TD said.

Most other towns in Kerry recorded slight drops in the numbers signing on.

Unemployment in Cork City during the same period dropped by nearly 300, but there were a number of blips in towns around the county. Dunmanway recorded a 9% rise, bringing the numbers signing on last month to 255.

Senator Michael McCarthy, who lives in the town, said he was concerned by the figures.

“The Fianna Fáil Government promised just before the last general election that jobs would be coming to the former Molynlycke factory. They didn’t and we’re still waiting. The figures just released are quite worrying,” the senator said.

There was a similar rise in the register in Newmarket, and there were nearly 50 more people signing on in Mallow, although this is blamed on the closure of the Greencore sugar factory.

However, Cobh seems to be improving. A total of 23 less people were signing on last month compared to August 2005. In Youghal, though, similar numbers are without jobs.

Fermoy remained static with exactly the same 954 on the register and Clonakilty stayed around the same with 438 unemployed.

In Kerry, all towns apart from Tralee and Listowel showed a fall in the number of people signing on, even though in some cases the fall was minuscule.

Killarney, though, performed best of all. In August 2005 it had 908 on the live register, while last month that had dipped to 823.