A STAGGERING
one-in-three of the workforce in Inishowen and wider
Co Donegal are now unemployed, latest figures show.
The statistics from the Central Statistics Office
reveal that Inishowen's live register figure rose
again last month to 4,978 - up from the April figure
of 4,898.
County councillor Pádraig MacLochlainn has been
analysing the figures. He said that despite the
population of Inishowen being almost half that of Co
Sligo, we have almost the same numbers of
unemployed. Donegal's labour force is 65,092,
according to data published by the County
Development Board, while unemployment is now at
21,391. This means that unemployment is at 30%. The
same worrying breakdown can be applied to the
peninsula which has a labour force of around 15,000
but an unemployed figure of almost 5,000.
"Behind these statistics lie devastation for so many
families in Inishowen and the county. While the
shadow of emigration once again hangs over our
homes, unlike in the past, only some can escape
because the traditional escape routes of Britain and
the USA are mostly not an option.
"This Government will therefore have to meet their
responsibilities to those they have failed unlike in
the past."
Cllr MacLochlainn said Sinn Féin had submitted a
wide range of costed proposals to the Government for
getting Donegal and Ireland back to work. However,
he accused the coalition of being "more interested
in bailing out their friends who recklessly gambled
away our future prosperity".
"Although I despair at the shameful decisions of
this Government, I continue to have hope. I find
hope in the legions of Inishowen people who have
rallied to the call of tidy towns leaders," said the
Buncrana-based councillor.
"The sight of people all over this peninsula
cleaning up litter and demonstrating such civic
pride in their homes towns, villages and parishes,
inspiring others to join them, has reminded me of
what Inishowen is truly about.
"We will recover in time because we have people of
this calibre and because of our indomitable spirit." |
