8897 Unemployed in Meath

Sinn Féin’s Sinéad Burke has described the soaring unemployment figures for Meath as catastrophic. Unemployment in Meath has more than doubled than on this time last year and now stand at 8,897.

She said “The government cannot continue to ignore the fact that the €5 billion deficit in our public finances is directly related to job losses. Due to this massive increase in unemployment tax revenue has collapsed while spending on welfare and medical cards is €1.5 billion over budget. However the government’s sole approach on cuts and borrowing is fundamentally undermining Ireland’s economy. The number one priority should be retaining and creating jobs. It should be getting Ireland back to work.
“We need a plan to hold on to or create the 1,000 jobs a day that are being lost. We need to fast track business start ups. We need to create a Sales Ireland strategy that maximises our existing indigenous export market as well as developing its growth prospects in the immediate and longer term. We need to foster and develop a real innovation culture. Success is possible but not until the current government delivers a plan. If they cannot it is time for them to go.”