New CSO figures for Donegal reveal worrying downward trend – Pringle

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Updated: 15th June 2017

Press Release – June 15^th, 2017

Deputy Pringle has expressed concern over new CSO figures for 2016 which reflect the socio-economic aspects of the census including employment, occupation and education as well as health, disability and caring.

“Nearly all of these indicators reflect a downward trend for Donegal, a reflection on the fact that Fine Gael policy has not worked for this part of the country since it came into power in 2011.

“Our labour force in Donegal has been declining, a decrease of 1.3% on 2011 figures which is not surprising and unemployment remains persistent at 18%, nearly 30% in certain unemployment black spots. Donegal has the second highest rate of unemployment next to Longford and stands at 5 points higher than the national average. Unemployment rates did decrease overall since 2011 but this is as a result of emigration which declining labour force figures show. The student population in Donegal has also declined due to out migration.

“It is unacceptable that we are still seeing persistent unemployment in Donegal despite claims from the Government that we are entering a period of economic recovery.

“CSO figures also reveal that and that the rate of disability in Donegal remains higher than the national average at 14.4%. This increase alongside an increase in the number of people retiring since 2011 rising by 17.3% means we need to start looking at the health needs of an ageing population. In terms of disability, we need greater accessible transport infrastructure alongside supports for peoples’ housing, health and employment needs. However, Fine Gael’s privatisation of our health service, its failure to adequately invest in Letterkenny Hospital and attempts to close community hospitals in Stranorlar, Lifford and Ramelton all run counter to these needs.

“Government policy is clearly not meeting the social and economic needs of people in Donegal. It’s now time that we saw county or region-specific Action Plans adequately resourced and prioritised at Government level aimed at combatting the visible downward trend as evidences in the CSO figures released today” concludes Pringle.

ENDS

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