Unemployment crisis - The greatest challenge facing us all

THE greatest challenge facing this society and our Government is the soaring unemployment rate — 14.5% — and the fact that nearly half of the 448,600 people out of work have been unemployed for more than a year.

Recognising this Taoiseach Enda Kenny, in a pre-Christmas interview published today, reiterated the Government’s commitment to do everything possible to try to create jobs.

Already under fire over unrealised commitments made last year to create 100,000 jobs, Mr Kenny said he hoped that “by the end of this Government’s period in office that anybody on long-term unemployment will be off long-term unemployment ... either ... in the world of work or ... up-skilling or changes of direction in terms of courses or whatever”.