Fine Gael continues to deliver on commitment to jobs, with unemployment rate now down to 7.9% – Burke

Fine Gael Senator for Cork North Central, Colm Burke, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the latest employment figures from the CSO which are a clear indication that the economy is continuing to recover. 

“At 7.9%, the unemployment rate is now at its lowest since November 2008 and is firmly below the European average. 

“This is not just a Dublin based recovery as some would have you believe. 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. 

“If current trends continue the number of people at work will break the two million mark this year. The CSO figures also indicate solid recovery in construction employment, which has seen an increase of almost 10,000 year on year.

“Today’s figures from the CSO follow last week’s announcement that Ireland’s economic rating has been bumped up to an A3 by credit ratings agency Moody’s – the first time since 2010 that Ireland has been in the A category. 

“Though we have more to do in terms of economic development, especially in rural areas; Ireland is on the right track and continues to be the fastest growing economy in Europe. 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. 

“Crucially, job creation means increased tax revenues for the State, which Fine Gael is committed to using to fix the many challenges we face as a society. We will continue 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 can plan confidently for the future.”