Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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977. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures she has taken to address the above average unemployment levels that persist in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12632/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The first publication of the Labour Force Survey which replaces the Quarterly National Household Survey (QHNS) was released on 16, January 2018 and is the official measure of unemployment. The most recent data shows that the national unemployment rate fell from a peak of 15% in 2012 to 6.4% by Q.4 2017. Unemployment decreased by 23,400 (-14.0%) in the year to Q4 2017 bringing the total number of persons unemployed to 144,100, marking the twenty second quarter in succession where unemployment has declined on an annual basis. Within the Border region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan, unemployment has fallen from a peak of 17.6% in Quarter 3, 2012 to 4.9% in Quarter 4, 2017. The number of people at work in the Border region increased by 59,800, to 238,500, over the same period.

While data from the Labour Force Survey is not available at the county level, trends in the Live Register can give an indication of underlying trends in local unemployment.

Overall, the Live Register in the counties of Cavan and Monaghan region has fallen by 48% in the 5 years to February 2018, slightly exceeding the reduction of 45% nationally. In the year to February 2018, the Live Register in the Cavan/Monaghan region fell by almost 1,200 people, or almost 14%, again closely in line with national trends.

Currently, there are 4 Activation Case Officers in the Intreo services in Cavan and Monaghan supported by teams of administrative support staff. Almost 2,000 customer engagements were scheduled in the region in 2017.

The Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment since 2012 is twofold:

-Firstly, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs. This policy now includes a specific regional Action Plan for the North East/North West Region, including Cavan and Monaghan, that has seen almost 7,000 jobs created in the region in the past two years.

-Secondly, through Pathways to Work, my Department ensures that as many new jobs and vacancies as possible are filled by people taken from the Live Register. Under this policy, employment services and activation supports are heavily concentrated on the areas of highest unemployment.

To date, the policies being pursued under the Action Plan for Jobs and under Pathways to Work have been effective in reducing unemployment, both nationally and in the Cavan/Monaghan region and I am confident that they will continue to do so.