Kenny vows to end long-term unemployment
Enda Kenny said providing a “change of direction” for people who have been out of work for over a year would be a priority for the Coalition in 2012, and that creating opportunities was something it would pursue “relentlessly”.
But opposition politicians questioned the Government’s ability to fulfil the pledge, saying there had been little progress from Mr Kenny’s administration to date.
Almost 430,000 people were on the Live Register at the end of last month, of which 179,890 were long-term unemployed — meaning out of work for a year or more. The 179,890 represented an increase of almost 30,000 on November 2010, and has heightened fears that the problem is becoming entrenched.
However, in a Christmas interview, Mr Kenny said tackling the jobs crisis would be “the real impetus” of Government over the coming year.
“I hope that, by the end of this Government’s period, anybody who’s currently on long-term unemployment will be off long-term unemployment,” he said.
They will “either be back in the world of work or will have involved themselves in upskilling or changes of direction in terms of courses or whatever,” he said.
Employment Minister Richard Bruton will bring forward a “jobs agenda” in January, which includes the development of a micro-finance agency to make more credit available to small businesses. The banks will be called in to meet Government to discuss the same issue.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton is also scheduled to deliver a labour activation policy next month entitled Pathways to Work.
“So in the sense of jobs and job creation and pathways to work, that’s going to be something that the Government will pursue here relentlessly,” said Mr Kenny.
However, Fianna Fáil jobs spokesman Willie O’Dea said it was merely rhetoric from Mr Kenny.
“The Taoiseach must think he is still in Opposition, because empty platitudes like that work in opposition. What we need here is action, and I see scant evidence of that.”
