Dole queues in the Mid West could rise to 55 thousand by the end of 20/10 unless urgent government action is taking.
The stark warning is contained in the long awaited interim report of the Mid West Taskforce which has been published by the Tanaiste.
The taskforce which includes the head of Shannon Development Vincent Cunnane, was set up to tackle the rising numbers of unemployed in the region following the Dell pullout and further job losses in Clare and Limerick
The report found that the amount of people unemployed in the Mid West Region is likely to reach 20 percent or 55 thousand people in the next 12 months unless urgent action is taken
The national lack of competitiveness is highlighted as having a significant impact as the region relies heavily on manufacturing, construction and tourism.
Among the recommendations in the report, is that the Government should invest heavily in projects such as roads, Shannon Airport and community enterprise schemes to create employment in the recession
The taskforce also is recommending a reduction in employers’ PRSI; credit for Corporation Tax paid, as well as reduced working hours
The necessary funding to provide the infrastructure to enable the establishment of the Lynx Cargo facility at Shannon Airport is also recommended as a matter of urgency
The taskforce also says that a marketing strategy for Shannon Airport is a priority and is recommending a dedicated fund to support this.
