Politicians clash over jobless figures

JOBLESS figures released for the Southside recently have sparked a war of words between opposing politicians.

The December 2014 Live Register figures published by the Central Statistics Office recently showed a decline of 3,300 compared to November.

According to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, more than 140,000 people had left the live register over the last 12 months.

Labour councillor Peter O’Brien said this was a

“real result

? and that continued growth in the economy would bring dividends to the Southside as the year progresses.

“In my own area, there have some excellent jobs announcements made at the end of last year, including the creation of 400 new jobs at CarTrawler in Dundrum Business Park,

? said Cllr O’Brien.

Cllr O’Brien also pointed out that Budget 2015 had seen tax reduced for low and middle-income earners.

“The Labour Party will continue to focus on jobs and recovery in 2015,

? he declared.

“There are now 27,600 extra people at work than a year ago, with 80,000 additional people at work since the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs was launched.

“That is real progress.

?

However, a similarly positive reaction to the jobless figures from Minister Frances Fitzgerald (FG) and Deputy Robert Dowds (Lab) prompted one Sinn Fein councillor to accuse both of being

“out of touch with the reality of people’s lives

?.

“According to the latest CSO figures there were 23 less people signing on in Lucan and Clondalkin in December compared with November,

? Cllr Eoin Ã? Broin (SF) said.

“As always, we do not know whether these people secured employment, emigrated, took up training or were simply cut off from their payments.

“However, Government TDs have been falling over themselves with self-praise.

“Our local TDs are clearly out of touch with the reality of people’s lives across Dublin Mid-West.

“For the vast majority of families 2015 started with property tax and water charge bills. Meanwhile, the ESRI confirmed that Budget 2015 will actually result in a loss of income for 60 per cent of households with only the richest 10 per cent benefiting in real terms.

“This is hardly something to be celebrating. People want an end to the unfairness that has been the hallmark of this Government since taking office in 2011.

“This can only be achieved with a change of Government. Enda Kenny should call a general election and let the people decide whether they think his Government is doing a good job.

?

In response Deputy Dowds argued that the number of people who were signing on in Clondalkin had fallen from 9,686 in August 2011, to 6,988 in December 2014.

“That’s a fall of over 28 per cent in just over three years, and that is real progress in getting people back to work,

? he said.

“When I said the employment figures were evidence of strong growth and a tangible recovery, I was referring to the fact that the numbers of people on the dole in Ireland have fallen for 30 months in a row.

“And contrary to Sinn Féin claims, for many families in Ireland, 2015 has begun with increases in child benefit, cuts to the USC and cuts to income tax.

“From the way Sinn Féin is going on, I’m honestly starting to think that they don’t want people to get jobs and don’t want the recovery to continue, so that they can keep attacking the Government.

“Despite their negativity, the economy is recovering, people are getting jobs, albeit more slowly than I would like.

?

Minister Fitzgerald added:

“I regret that Cllr O’Broin does not value the very positive news that more people locally are coming off the live register and the impact this has had on their families and the local economy.

“The facts – that is, every credible piece of economic data – show that recovery is taking root.

“Unemployment has fallen for 30 consecutive months since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in February 2012, from 15.1 per cent to 10.6 per cent nationally.

“It is also a fact that there is more money in people’s pockets as the income tax and USC cuts in Budget 2015 take effect.

“This Government is very aware that not every household has felt the benefits of recovery yet – that is why we are focused on maintaining stability, creating more jobs, making work pay and reforming tax.

?