Two Tier Recovery Once Again Underlined In Employment Figures

The latest CSO figures, which show that the number of people in employment in the western region has fallen from 182,000 to 177,000 to the end of March this year is further evidence of the two tier recovery that is going in in our economy. The lack of investment and the promotion of new jobs in the western region is a constant theme that we have seen from this Government, and unless there is a change in attitude and policy toward the western region the imbalance will continue and will grow. Employment figures continue to grow nationally and that is welcome, but outside the major cities like Dublin, Cork and Galway and particularly in rural parts of the west it is a totally different story. Unless we start creating jobs and increase investment, young people will continue to leave rural Ireland that that will lead to further stagnation