Athlone dole queues lengthen by over 50%

The numbers lining Athlone dole queues have rocketed by well over 58% in just twelve months, as the October live register figures lay bare the extent of the economic downturn in South Westmeath. 2,331 people in the town are now claiming unemployment benefit, the highest figure in a decade and a 58.6% jump in comparison with October 2007. In one month alone from September to October there were actually 140 extra people out of work in the town, continuing the shocking deterioration in the labour market locally. Again, as in previous months, men over 25 account for the vast majority of those lining the Athlone dole queues equating to almost 49% of the total jobless figure in the town. Females in the same category make up 26.9% of the Athlone jobless figure. Across Westmeath the picture of doom and gloom continues as those out of work now grows from 3,917 to a massive 6,213 in just twelve months, an almost 58% upward shift in the jobless figures, with Mullingar making up over half of the Lake County total. Although all regions nationally recorded a rise in the numbers out of work in October, the midlands was the hardest hit region showing a 6% increase in just one month. Nationally, the total number of people signing on for unemployment payments or Social Welfare credits has now reached 260,300, the highest level since March 1997. This brings the increase in unemployment over the past twelve months to 94,600, the highest annual increase ever recorded with men accounting for 72% of this jump - an indication of the slowing construction market. According to the CSO, Ireland"s unemployment rate now stands at 6.7% of the labour force, up from 4.6% this time last year, and more than double the rate recorded back in 2001. Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael Deputy James Bannon said: 'One person is now losing their job every three minutes. Nearly 70,000 people countrywide have lost their jobs since Brian Cowen became Taoiseach, and there are now more people on the live register than when Fianna Fáil came to power in 1997.' He added: 'Unemployment is the human cost of economic mismanagement. The Government has thrown in the towel on unemployment in the same way it has thrown in the towel on public services and the public finances. In the Dáil during the week, Fine Gael called on the Government to take a four-pronged approach to stem the rising tide of unemployment. This involves abandoning the failed Budget, investing in education and training, restoring competitiveness and greater supports for business.' Deputy Bannon also called on the Government to overhaul FÁS and provide a public works scheme for the unemployed as well as restoring competitiveness among small and medium enterprises.