Border region unemployment Increase Second Only to Capital

"Our Government TDs have settled into a comfort zone and are complacent when it comes to the plight of the unemployed and issue of unemployment". So reads an email sent by a constituent to Cavan Councillor Shane P O'Reilly following the live register figures released on Tuesday. "The newly released figures show continued increases in unemployment in the Border Region. Each and every one of the 64,442 people in the region who are unemployed is a lost opportunity for Ireland PLC to showcase skills in manufacturing, services and creativity to the world. "With almost 20% of that number under the age of 25, we are now at a tipping point where we risk a generation of young people being consigned to long term unemployment. "Since Fine Gael and Labour came to power, the press statements, photo opportunities and soundbites have not been matched with real jobs, real salaries or real dreams being fulfilled. The gloss is well and truly coming off the coalition, a coalition of broken promises and broken dreams" claimed Cllr O'Reilly. He continued, "There is an 'arc of instability' in the economy. Banks are reluctant to lend to small businesses to invest in jobs. Self employed people are reluctant to invest in their businesses for fear of a new catalogue of taxes and levies. "Government is paralysed with inaction on real solutions as each cabinet minister digs in to try and protect their own departmental spending, ignoring the plight of hundreds of thousands of families anxiously trying to get back to work, and back on top of bills and loans. "This week's 0.25% interest rate cut will hopefully help stimulate the wider economy, and alleviate some of the financial pain associated with mortgages and business loans for householders and SMEs, but the reality is still that unemployment in the border region is 2nd highest only to Dublin. Business sentiment remains weak and consumer confidence is faltering". In conclusion he stated: "It is crystal clear unless there is a strategic and integral economic growth programme put in place immediately, the forthcoming budget will undoubtedly add to the unemployment numbers as more and more businesses fail, throw in the towel or force talent to emigrate, losing essential skills and services to competitor countries."