More jobs in Clare over past 12 months

WITH 20,000 more people at work in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary over the past year, Clare Fine Gael General election candidate Leonora Carey said this demonstrates the importance of implementing pro-enterprise policies.

Commenting on the latest employment figures from the Central Statistics Office, Ms Carey said the number of people at work in the Mid West region increased from 254,200 to 274,200 between September 2023 to September 2024.

“On a nationwide level, an additional 98,600 people are at work compared to a year ago, which clearly demonstrates the strength of Ireland’s economy under the stewardship of successive Fine Gael ministers for enterprise and finance,” she explained.

“Over 900,000 more people are at work compared to when Fine Gael first entered government in 2011 – that’s a 49% increase. Fine Gael has a plan to add a further 300,000 jobs to the economy over the next five years, breaking the barrier of 3 million jobs. 

“The breakdown per sector also shows really encouraging signs. I particularly welcome the fact that the numbers employed in accommodation and food services is up by 17,000, while the number of people working in healthcare and social work increased by 16,200.”

“This election campaign has heard a lot from other parties about how they will spend the money at our disposal. In fact, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald went as far as to describe the healthy state of the economy as ‘beyond our wildest dreams’. 

“What they never talk about is how we generate the money in the first place. Fine Gael understands that it is our businesses and our workers that generate this revenue and we need to place a relentless focus on pro-enterprise, pro-business measures. Backing business is even more important in the years ahead as we face an uncertain international landscape.  

“I also welcome the news that the number of women at work is the highest rate since records began,”  Ms Carey added.

PHOTO: Leonora Carey with Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and the Employment, Emer Higgins.