Fine Gael continues to deliver on commitment to job creation in Cork, with unemployment rate now down to 7.9% – Buttimer

Fine Gael Cork Senator, Jerry Buttimer, said today (Tuesday) that Fine Gael is continuing to deliver on its pledge to prioritise job creation and reduce unemployment. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office reveal that the unemployment rate is now down to 7.9%. They also show an increase of almost 8,000 in those employed in Cork and Kerry in the past 12 months.

“This is very positive news and proof yet again of Fine Gael’s commitment and success in creating the environment to get people in Cork back to work.

“We all need to continue working together to create more jobs in Cork city, particularly in those areas which have seen the highest unemployment rates. This week another important step towards job creation was taken by Cork City Council. The Cork City Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) 2016 – 2021 was put out to public consultation. It is an action driven plan used to guide economic and community development in the city over the next six years and I would encourage everyone to get involved in this process.

“The national unemployment rate of 7.9% is the lowest since November 2008 and our unemployment rate is now firmly below the European average. Unemployment has decreased in every region of the country in the last 12 months.

“155,000 new jobs have been created since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012 and the Programme for Government has reaffirmed the Action Plan for Jobs as the best way to implement ideas on job creation across Government. With 15,400 new jobs created in the first three months of 2016 we are off to a great start in meeting Fine Gael’s target of 200,000 new jobs by 2020.

“Each new job created in Cork is another family looking forward to a brighter future and each new job created by a business is a sign of returning confidence and growth. In fact each new job created in Cork leads to more resources which Fine Gael is committed to using to fix the many challenges we face as a society.

“This Partnership Government is determined to maintain the good progress on job creation that was started by the previous Government.

“Fine Gael in Government continues to prioritise job creation because we believe that only a strong economy, supporting people at work, can pay for the services needed to create a fair society here in Cork and around the country. Helping people back into work will lead to greater equality of opportunity, where people in Cork can plan confidently for the future.”