Doubling of jobless numbers adds to dole office pressures

Fine Gael councillor John Duffy has said the most recent unemployment figures for Navan are a 'very sad reflection on this Fianna Fail-led declining economy'. He said that 'under Fianna Fáil"s watch, the unemployment figure in Navan has more than doubled in a year from 2,401 in April 2008 to over 5,312 in April of this year'. He added: 'In just one month, 309 new claims for assistance in Navan has put even more pressure on the already stressed staff of both the Department of Social and Family Affairs and indeed the HSE-employed community welfare officers. As it is physically impossible to place more staff in the social welfare office in Navan, the waiting times for payment of benefits have lengthened from approximately six weeks to 16 in some cases. 'Already demoralised, people are forced to stand in queues on a busy street in Navan to see the community welfare officer for financial assistance whilst waiting for their entitlements.' Cllr Duffy said that one woman had commented to him that it reminded her of pictures she saw in her history books of soup kitchens. The latest dismal live register figures show there were almost 10,000 people unemployed in County Meath in April, more than double the figure for the same period last year. Some 507 people joined the dole queues in the county during April, bringing the total number on the live register in Meath to 9,971. However, the rate of increase for the numbers 'signing on" in Meath has slowed to 5.36 per cent in April compared with 17.8 per cent in January, 8.2 per cent in February and 6.37 per cent in March. This figure is still well above the national average increase of 3.5 per cent and is just behind Dublin, which recorded the highest increase of 5.4 per cent. In April 2008, there were 4,511 people on the live register in Meath but in April 2009, this figure has jumped to 9,971. There are now 5,312 people 'signing on" in Navan, 2,973 in Trim and 1,686 in Kells. Cllr Duffy said that the situation had to be addressed immediately. 'Granted, it would take time to train someone for these positions in both the social welfare and community welfare offices, but one suggestion made to me is to increase the opening hours until such time that the backlog is cleared,' said Cllr Duffy. He added that many people do not realise it is the same community welfare officers who deal with claims for unemployment assistance, one parent family payments and medical card applications. 'The unemployment figures have had a serious knock-on effect on all sections of assistance. 'Increases in these figures mean an increase in those who are now entitled to medical cards and supplementary assistance, and all have to pass through the CWO Office,' added Cllr Duffy.