Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

Does the Minister of State accept that the monthly decrease in the rate of unemployment can be attributed to seasonal factors? The underlying trend is that there has been almost no change in the live register. While the relevant unemployment figures for Tallaght and Ballyfermot fell in the month referred to by the Minister of State, the number of people on the live register is higher than it was for the same month in 2005. Is it not clear to the Minister of State that economic growth is bypassing some key neighbourhoods in the Tallaght area?

Tallaght should be an economic hub because it is so close to transport centres, such as major roads. Over the last year, traditional industries have decided to move to cheaper locations, unfortunately. We have seen an increase in the number of people receiving unemployment payments. I ask the Minister of State to explain why so many people in the Tallaght area are unemployed. Specific strategies are normally introduced in economic areas where there have been significant job losses, like those which have been experienced in Tallaght over the last year. We have not seen the various agencies coming together in the Tallaght area, however.

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