Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

Is the Minister for real? Is he not aware that 890 persons in Carrick-on-Suir are signing on the live register, and this has probably been a consistent figure over the past ten years? The figure reached a maximum of approximately 950 but has hovered around the 900 mark for about ten years. This represents approximately 25% unemployment in the town.

Would the Minister accept that his comments have condemned Carrick-on-Suir to that level of unemployment into the future? That is the meaning of what the Minister has stated. He has traipsed all over south Tipperary and all over the south east but he has effectively said nothing about positive action for job creation in Carrick-on-Suir. If the town was Passage West, in the Minister's constituency, would I have got that sort of reply?

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