Number on Dole in Galway City down 1,400 on last year

There were 1,400 fewer on the Dole in Galway City in August compared with the same month last year.

The latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) live register figures contained nuggets of good news on the employment front as the numbers signing on in the city dipped to 10,553.

That represented a whopping 12% reduction in the numbers signing on in the city, and 1,402 fewer dole recipients, compared with 12 months ago.

There was, however, an increase of 139 people, or 1.3% in the numbers on the Live Register at the end of August compared with the July figure.

The trend of fewer people signing on in the city was replicated right across towns in the county, too. The overall numbers of people signing on in County Galway is now 20,707, some 10% or 2,297 fewer than August last year.

There were 2,330 people signing on in Ballinasloe, down by 234 or 9%; there were 1,011 signing on in Clifden, down by 153 or 13%; there were 1,406 signing on in Gort, 97 less or 6.5% compared with last year.

There are 2,222 signing on in Loughrea, 228 fewer or 9%; and there are 3,185 signing on in Tuam, some 183 less or 5.4%, compared with August 2013.

Government backbencher, Galway West TD, Brian Walsh, says the figures are encouraging.

“The unemployment figures are down again and they have been falling continuously for the last 18 months or more. It is obviously very positive but we won’t be getting carried away – there are still too many people signing on and we have to keep working hard to ensure unemployment falls further,” said the Fine Gael TD.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel