County in crisis as 28 a day join dole queue

TWENTY-EIGHT people joined the Live Register in Limerick every single day last month, according to a concerned local TD who is trying to highlight the growing number of jobless in the city.

Kieran O’Donnell, of Fine Gael said that over 25s in Limerick city are joining the Live Register at a rate of 60% above the national average.

He said it is now clear that unemployment is becoming embedded in Limerick in a way not seen elsewhere in the country.

He said: “The Live Register figures here continue to rise well above the national average, with Limerick rising at a rate 27.6% higher than the national average and the Live Register in Limerick city rising 38% higher than the national average. While the Live Register in the country as a whole rose by 3.07% in July, it rose by 3.92% last month in Limerick overall and rose by 4.24% in Limerick City.

“To put this in context, 873 people joined the Live Register in Limerick in July alone and there are now 23,148 people on the Live Register here. That is equal to 28 people joining the Live Register every single day last month. In Limerick city alone, 671 people joined the Live Register. That is 22 people every single day for the month, and represents 77% of the total increase in Limerick.”

He said he can’t avoid the conclusion that government is either unable or unwilling to arrest the unemployment problem in Limerick.

“A major problem like this requires a major initiative to tackle it. What is needed is a determined, concerted, joined-up approach from government, but we are getting nothing of the sort,” Mr O’Donnell said. “As recently as last month, the EU Commission decided to restore grant aid to large firms locating in Limerick and the midwest to 10% of the value of their investment. However, the Government is doing nothing to match this commitment.

“Limerick and the midwest must now be designated the number one priority area for Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland. Since the Dell manufacturing closure 19 months ago, 1,017 IDA-backed jobs have been announced for Cork, and 511 for Galway. In the same period, only 50 have been announced for Limerick along with Analog’s €23 million R&D investment here,” he added.

He said unemployment is becoming very deeply embedded in Limerick.

“The Live Register figures don’t lie, the picture they paint is increasingly appalling for Limerick. “Furthermore, the failure of government to take the necessary action is allowing the problem to get worse and worse all the time.

There must be a major co-ordinated initiative across all arms of government to address the unemployment crisis here,” he added.