21,791
The local live register figures for July are out, and it shows a continued significant rise in both Limerick City and County.
791 people joined the live register, bringing the current figure to 21,791. This represents an annual increase of 90.3 percent. The figures suggest that the number of people losing their jobs is continuing to slow down. Last month, the annual increase was recorded at 96 percent. There has been a drop in the number of people joining the register, which stood at 1,190 at the end of June.
In Kilmallock, the figure went from 2,487 in June to 2,607 in July. Kilmallock had an anual increase of 103 percent in it’s live register figures.
In Newcastle West, the figure went from 3,476 in June to 3,546 in July. Newcastle West had an annual increase in it’s live register figures of 117 percent.
In Limerick City, the figure went from 15,037 to 15,638 between June and July. The city had an annual increase in it’s figures of 83 percent.
Commenting on the figures released today, City Councillor Maurice Quinlivan expressed concern at the fact that over 5,000 of those on the live register are under the age of 25.
He also urged the government to make progress on the regeneration scheme, which, when implimented is reputed to promise up to 7,000 jobs.
“Here in Limerick we are all well aware that if the long promised Regeneration of Moyross, Southill, St. Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston were to take place then thousands of jobs could be created. The government still fails to see the urgency of the situation and more than 2 years after John Fitzgerald produced his report not a single brick had be laid nor a foundation dug in the regeneration process.”
He also called on the government to come to the aid of Small and Medium Enterprises who were finding it difficult, if not impossible to get credit from banks which the government had bailed out.
“Despite pouring billions of taxpayer’s money into the banks many small and medium sized businesses will tell you it is near impossible for them to access credit. Many entrepreneurs will tell you how they are unable to obtain money from the banks.””
The July figures from the CSO can be accessed here (PDF format)