9,000+ LOCALLY UNEMPLOYED
Regional live register figures released by the Central Statistics Office this week will make grim reading for the newly elected county and town councillors in The Avondhu area as it has been revealed that local unemployment has more than doubled in the last year.
It is estimated that current levels of unemployment in the local region alone is costing the taxpayer approximately €10 million a month. Statistics from the five main Social Welfare offices covering the region show that an extra 4,789 people joined dole queues in the last 12 months.
West Limerick has seen the greatest number of additional people claiming job seekers benefits, with a rise of 1,242 in the Kilmallock office while South Tipperary experienced the greatest percentage rise on last year's figures, with increases of 125% and 109% in Tipperary Town and Cahir respectively.
The figures from the Fermoy social welfare office represent claims from North Cork towns and villages such as Mitchelstown, Glanworth, Kilworth and Rathcormac and show that unemployment is nearly double what is was in May 2008.
Last February Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin explained that every1,000 people on the live register costs the State €13 million per annum.
By this figure It is estimated that unemployment in The Avondhu region alone is costing the State close to €10million a month. Annual statistics: May ’08-May ‘09.
Published:
Thursday 11th June 6:37pm
