What are the real unemployment figures?

IN November 2010, Ireland’s unemployment rate was 13.9%, with 28.4% of under 25s on the live register.

As appalling as these statistics are, it appears that they are being conveniently massaged by excluding those in receipt of social welfare in the form of the Back to Education Allowance.

Paid the same as those on Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance, they are taken off the live register even though they are costing the exchequer the same amount of money. I was recently contacted by someone who is now unemployed two years, with her most basic expenditure far exceeding her social welfare income. she did a one-year course during that time to improve her employment prospects but has been unsuccessful to date in finding work. When she contacted her local social welfare office to apply for the fuel allowance, she was informed that, because she was in receipt of Back to Education Allowance for nine months, she was not unemployed for a long enough period to qualify.

The logic behind this is mind boggling to say the least. Attending the course meant travel expenses, exam fees, buying books and stationery — expenses she could not afford, but incurred in good faith that her circumstances would change. Imagine if the real unemployment figures were released, I dread to think what they would be.

Cllr Noel Collins

St Judes

Midleton

Co Cork