Over 5,500 people signing on in Offaly

There are now a staggering 5,617 people queuing for the dole in Offaly according to the final CSO figures released for 2008. This is a 71% increase over the last 12 months and an increase in December alone of 453 people signing on compared to the number in November 08. In the breakdown of figures the Edenderry area was worst hit, with 88.5% more people signing on the live register during 2008. In Tullamore there was an increase of 68% and in Birr a hike of 61%. There are just over 1,500 people signing on in Birr and Edenderry and a worrying 2,544 signing on in Tullamore. Men over the age of 25 are worst affected in the county with 2,997 signing on during the year, while there are 855 men under 25 registered. Offaly women over the age of 25 are also worst affected, with 1,288 on the live register while there are 477 under 25 signing on. In November there was a monthly increase of 302 people signing on and a further 453 people in December. If this monthly rise trend continues, and with news filtering through of small but regular numbers of job losses in the local retail/construction sector, the CSO figures for the end of January could bring the total number signing on in the faithful county to over 6,000. Meanwhile, Cllr Molly Buckley is calling on the Social Welfare Minister Mary Hanafin to employ more staff in social welfare offices locally, to cope with the extra workload. She"s suggesting at next Monday"s council meeting that the council should write to the Minister asking her to take action. The live register increase was reflected in all regions. The largest percentage increase of males signing on was in the Midland region (10%). The number of females also increased in all regions. The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance.