Published: Wednesday, 8th September, 2010 5:30pm

Live register figures hit record high in Athlone

Live register numbers in Athlone have hit a record high of over 4,300, latest figures have revealed.

The shock statistics mean that jobless numbers have soared by over 10% from the end of 2009.

According to the Central Statistics Office, some, 4,334 people signed on in the town's social welfare office during August, up very slightly from the 4,279 the previous month.

The figures represent a record high in unemployment levels in modern memory in the town.

And the picture is similar across the county, with live register numbers hitting the 11,000 mark for the first time in August. In total, some 10,996 people signed on in the three social welfare offices in Westmeath in August, up marginally from the 10,936 recorded in July.

However, the July and August figures both represent substantial increases from earlier in the year as the unemployment problem continues to worsen across the county.

Adding to the tale of woe, there is a similar trend in Roscommon where 4,329 signed on in August - another modern high. Record numbers also signed on in Mullingar (5,329) although during August there was a slight reduction in the numbers signing on in Castlepollard compared to the previous month.

Across Westmeath, 22% of those on the Live Register were under 25, while almost four in ten were women (37.6%). In Roscommon, 20.1% were under 25, while more one in three were women (34.6%)

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted Live Register total increased from 452,500 in July to 455,000 in August, an increase of 2,500.

Longford/Westmeath Labour deputy Willie Penrose said the figures were "an indication of the continuing seriousness of the jobs problem and the total failure of the government to make any significant progress in tackling it".

"The numbers on the Live Register have increased by an incredible 313,000 since the Fianna Fail/ Green Party government was formed in May 2007. With every person out of work costing the Exchequer around €20,000 in terms of tax foregone and additional social welfare payments, the total annual cost of the extra 313,000 on the Live Register is an incredible €6.25bn," he said.

"The combined cost of the bank rescue and the huge numbers out of work is strangling the Exchequer and delaying our prospects of economic recovery," he added.

Calling for some real job creation initiatives, he said while recent proposals to allow 10,000 people on the Live Register to do some paid work in the community had some merit, they would only be the tip of the iceberg.