Live register numbers fall below 12,000

Meath's jobless figures have fallen, leading to a cautious welcome for what has been described as "a small but significant step". The numbers on the live register in Meath in September fell to 11,721 from the August figure of 12,290. The figure for last month also saw a fall from the same period last year when the number unemployed in the county was 11,841. Some 2,032 of those on the live register in Meath are under the age of 25 and the number of men on the dole is significantly more than women with 7,362 males and 4,357 females signing on. Navan saw a drop in jobless numbers to 5,984 from 6,244 in August. There are 3,803 males and 2,181 females signing on, with 1,037 young people under the age of 25 registered. In Kells, the number on the live register fell in September to 2,094, down from 2,165 in August. Some 1,313 males and 775 females are on the dole in Kells with 333 of these under 25. In Trim, the numbers unemployed fell from 3,881 in August to 3,643 last month. There are currently 2,240 men on the dole in Trim and 1,403 women signing on. Some 662 of those on the live register in Trim are under 25. Deputy Damien English said the reality was that the numbers were still extremely high. "The numbers unemployed are still far too high, but this is a small step in the right direction. The signs are good," he said. Deputy English said the government was concentrating on job creation and plans would be unveiled shortly to create 100,000 positions over the next few years. Deputy Ray Butler also welcomed the drop in jobless numbers. "Any drop is welcome, but there is a long road ahead," he said. "One issue I will be pursuing is the availabiliy of credit for start-up businesses," he said. However, Deputy Peadar Tóibín has castigated the "anaemic response by the government to the jobs crisis". He said: "According to the ERSI figures, 29,166 people emigrated since this government took office and yet this government's Job Bridge intern scheme has so far created 1,400 places in total. "Given the instability endemic within the economy, we cannot reasonably assume any underlining trend from this month's unemployment figures other than the fact that nearly half a million people are at crisis point." He said that since this government came into office seven months ago with a massive mandate to undertake a radical jobs programme, "all we have seen is an anaemic response".