Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has said that the fact that CSO figures show a reduction in unemployment to 9.3% is positive for the North County.
“I am pleased to see that unemployment levels continue to decrease, with the unemployment level now standing at 9.3%, down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012.
“Furthermore, it is positive that youth unemployment has now dropped to a six year low, this is particularly pleasing considering the fall in the number of people emigrating. In fact, youth unemployment has fallen from 30.9% in February 2012 to 19.7% today. While this is great news, the youth unemployment rate remains far too high, and a continuation of the work of Government in promoting investment and job creation is essential to ensure youth unemployment levels continue to decrease.
“When looking at the number or people under 25 on the live register in the North County, it is encouraging to see that, between February 2012 and September 2015, the youth unemployment level has fallen by 43.7% in the Balbriggan social welfare office, and by 47.6% in the Swords social welfare office.
“Over 125,000 jobs have been created since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in February 2012. While the current unemployment figures show that we are making good progress, it is clear that much remains to be done to continue the reduction in both our national, and youth, unemployment rates.
Fine Gael has a plan to do finish the job we started, by strengthening our economic recovery and further promoting job creation, which will generate the resources to invest in services that people in the North County, and across the country, depend upon.”