This article is from page 4 of the 2009-08-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THERE were more people signing on in Ennis last month than signed- on in their entire county just one year ago.
New figures release by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed that 6,279 people claimed unemployment benefit in the county capital last month, compared to 6,023 in the en- tire county in July of 2008.
The total number on the live regis- ter in Clare last month was 10,513, up 344 or 3.5 per cent on the previ- ous month and the highest numbers
on record of County Clare. If the cur- rent trend continues the number sign- ing on in Clare will tip the 13,000 mark by the end of the year.
The increases were spread around the county with Ennis reporting a month-on-month increase in the un- employment level of 207 people. The upward trend was mirrored in En- nistymon, Kilrush and Tulla which reported increases of 39, 53 and 45 respectively.
These new figures were described as “horrendous” by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Associa- tion (ISME), who have called on the
Government to immediately intro- duce a comprehensive employment plan to address the current employ- NAINLMD KONE
“While the Government have at last taken the issue seriously by in- troducing the Employment Subsidy Scheme, the reality is that the initia- tive is a mere drop in the ocean with regard to what needs to be done,” said Mark Fielding, ISME Chief Ex- ecutive.
‘Many sectors of the business com- munity continue to struggle with no assistance. What is urgently required is a coordinated approach to address-
ing the crisis and not piecemeal pro- erammes that may only have limited SUCCESS.”
ISME warned that unless decisive action is taken, the dole queues will continue to lengthen and have sug- gested that the government introduce a National Employment Plan. Ac- cording to the ISME chief executive the plan should address the barriers to business, which are contributing to job losses, including costs, late payments and lack of credit.
In the last 12 months the numbers signing on in Clare have increased by 75 per cent, from 6,023 to 10,513.