Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Listening to the Minister's reply, one would think that things are wonderful in Wexford. If things are improving so much, how can the live register still be at over 18%? Wexford is ranked the third most deprived county in the country. Why does Wexford have one of the worst illiteracy rates in the country? Why does it have one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the country? Why does it have one of the highest suicide rates in the country?

The Minister can use figures all he likes but they will not change the reality. There are bugger all jobs in Wexford. Most of the Wexford people that are working have to leave the county to do so. There are a few people back working because they are getting into vans at 5 a.m. and driving to building sites in Dublin for work. There are no jobs worth talking about coming to Wexford and they will not come unless there are pro-active measures taken by the Government.

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