Munster Express Online

Speaking at the launch in Kilkenny of Sinn Féin’s Day of Action on Jobs, Cllr Kathleen Funchion said that the prognosis for economic recovery was dire, with no concrete job creation strategy on the horizon from the Government and over 452,500 on the dole, a number that increases every month.

“The prognosis for economic recovery is dire,” she stated. “The unemployment figure for Kilkenny again rose this month to 7,938. Fianna Fáil cannot claim any economic competence when they are complacently presiding over increasing unemployment. The government is determined to slash public services and put even more people on the dole. Sinn Féin in Kilkenny are launching this day of action highlighting the fact that so many of our young people are being forced to emigrate because of the utter failure of this government to implement a job creation strategy. Their answer to rising unemployment is to export it! This Government is adept at announcing schemes and new jobs, but their record on actually creating these jobs is reflected in today’s jump in the Live Register. With over 620,000 jobs having been announced by the Government and associated agencies in the past year, why are there 452,500 people on the Live Register and why will 120,000 people emigrate by the end of 2011?”