68% rise in Cork dole claims in 1 year

THE number of people claiming the dole in Co Cork increased by 68% in just one year — the second biggest rise of any county in the country.

According to figures released by the Central Statistics office the surge was 68% from 25,282 in November 2008 to 42,408 last month.

Cork city itself saw an increase of 63% but it was in the commuter towns of Mallow (77%), Midleton (72%) and Carrigaline (89%) where the effect of the recession appears to have been particularly prevalent.