Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The official measure of unemployment is sourced from the quarterly national household survey, QNHS. The most recent data show that the unemployment rate fell from a peak of 15% in 2012 to just over 6% in mid-2017. The number at work has increased from just over 1.8 million in quarter 2 of 2012 to over 2 million in quarter 2 of 2017. That is an increase of just under 230,000 people with new jobs. Within the south-east region, which includes Wexford, unemployment has fallen from a staggering 19% to 8.1% over the same period, and the number in employment has increased by 29,000 to 214,900.

While the data from the QNHS are not available at county level, trends in the live register can give an indication of underlying trends in local unemployment. Overall, the live register in Wexford has fallen by almost 42% in five years, close to the reduction of 44% nationally. In the year to October 2017, the live register number in Wexford has fallen by 1,741 people, or almost 14%, again closely in line with the national trend.

The Government's primary strategy to tackle unemployment since 2012 has been twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, the objective is to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs. The policy now includes a specific regional action plan for jobs for the south east that has seen over 8,000 jobs created in the area over the past two years. Second, through Pathways to Work, we ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the live register. Under this policy, the employment service and activation supports provided by my Department are heavily concentrated on the areas of highest unemployment, including those in Wexford. For example, case officers in Wexford are currently working with over 1,400 people in identifying suitable employment and training opportunities. Almost 3,000 referrals to training and educational opportunities took place in 2016. A total of 1,165 of those training opportunities have been made to date in 2017, an increase of over 33% on the same period in 2016.

I acknowledge the Deputy is concerned about his region but the policies we have put in place, both through activation and the Action Plan for Jobs, are working. We will continue to give extra support to Wexford until its figures are in line with the national trend.

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