7,000 will emigrate from Meath by 2014: cllr predicts

An estimated 7,000 Meath people are likely to leave these shores in search of work in the next four years, according to Cllr Peadar Tóibín. He said he is basing the figures on a percentage of population of the estimated 200,000 who are expected to emigrate from across the country over that period, pointing out that Meath's unemployment rate has increased at a faster rate than any other county in the last three years. Cllr Tóibín has slammed the current deflationary policy being pursued by Fianna Fáil and the Greens and has challenged Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to a debate on job creation in Meath. Speaking at a Sinn Fein economics forum in Rath Chairn, he said the Government's "policy of retrenchment is leading to stagnation in the jobs market". He added: "While there may be a statistical recovery on the cards as far as GDP is concerned over the next two years, the real economy, as measured by GNP, will still be in negative growth. "This Government implemented a pro-cyclical economic policy during the boom, has learned nothing and is implementing a pro-cyclical policy now. This will ensure a recession in human terms for the foreseeable future," he warned He said that what this meant for Meath is that jobs will not be created for the 12,000 unemployed. "It means that up to 7,000 people will emigrate from the county over the next four years. "These are not my figures - they have been extrapolated from the recent ERSI figures. This is a shocking and sad indictment of our two Government TDs, Noel Dempsey and Johnny Brady. If Government policy does not change, Minister Noel Dempsey will be known as the Minister for Emigration in this county," he said. Cllr Tóibín said the Government would accuse him and others like him of talking down the economy, but the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and ex Finance Minister, Brian Cowen, tried to stifle debate on this issue in a similar fashion. "This issue is too serious to stay silent. There needs to be a debate and there needs to be a change of policy," added Cllr Tóibín. "The only way out of this recession is through savings where they can be made and counter-cyclical stimulation and investment. Now is the time for investment in vital infrastructure such as the rail line to Navan, now is the time for the building of the new regional hospital in Meath. The deficit in proper school buildings should now be tackled. The Government needs to invest in the training and up-skilling of a whole generation of newly unemployed people. "All these are vital investments which give people jobs and will pay multiple dividends in the future. When I was young, Fianna Fáil's economic policy had led to mass emigration. Many thousands were forced to emigrate then. We cannot allow Fianna Fáil-induced mass emigration to happen again. "I hereby call on Noel Dempsey to engage with me in a public debate on the issue of job creation in Meath as soon as possible."