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19/07/2012
Derry Unemployment Figures Indicative Of Generations Of Underinvestment - Durkan
SDLP Social Development Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said that the worrying figures for unemployment in the Derry area show the legacy of sustained underinvestment in the North-West and risk an irrevocable exodus of talented young people to more prosperous areas.
The Foyle MLA was speaking after the most recent unemployment figures for the area showed that nearly 6000 people were signing on in Derry, representing 11% of working age men and 4% of working age women.
Mr Durkan said: "These latest numbers are deeply disturbing and paint a very stark picture for the future of Derry if they go unchecked.
"We have a significantly higher percentage of unemployed people than areas east of Derry and this is, it must be said with regret, a damning indictment of the level of underinvestment in the North-West in general and Derry in particular.
"The fact that 2,308 people applied for 14 jobs in a DFS shop in Derry is comparable to the level of oversubscription for jobs seen just over the border on the Inishowen peninsula, which has staggering levels of unemployment.
"The fallout of this level of joblessness is serious – young people are either forced to leave the area or emigrate to another country in order to find opportunities or they are consigned to years out of work, even if they have a good set of qualifications.
"This 'brain drain' will have repercussions for generations to come and will result in Derry being put into a cycle of deprivation that just cannot be broken.
"In addition to this, long-term unemployment is proven to have a detrimental effect on mental and physical health and can, in and of itself, contribute to a sense of benefit dependency.
"Of course, this dependency, along with those who do work hard to get off benefits, will be hit hard by forthcoming welfare reforms, which will do more harm than good as the Social Development minister happily implements the Tory cuts coming out of Westminster.
"The Executive must work harder to ensure that the North-West is no longer the poor cousin in the North of Ireland economy.
"Sustainable job creation and substantial investment, over and above the forthcoming signature projects in Derry such as the City of Culture must form a core part of any further economic policy coming out of the Executive and I will be lobbying ministers to that effect.
"It has long been stated that coming out of unemployment reinstates a sense of pride and a sense of purpose – it is high time Derry was given some of that pride back."
(CD/GK)
The Foyle MLA was speaking after the most recent unemployment figures for the area showed that nearly 6000 people were signing on in Derry, representing 11% of working age men and 4% of working age women.
Mr Durkan said: "These latest numbers are deeply disturbing and paint a very stark picture for the future of Derry if they go unchecked.
"We have a significantly higher percentage of unemployed people than areas east of Derry and this is, it must be said with regret, a damning indictment of the level of underinvestment in the North-West in general and Derry in particular.
"The fact that 2,308 people applied for 14 jobs in a DFS shop in Derry is comparable to the level of oversubscription for jobs seen just over the border on the Inishowen peninsula, which has staggering levels of unemployment.
"The fallout of this level of joblessness is serious – young people are either forced to leave the area or emigrate to another country in order to find opportunities or they are consigned to years out of work, even if they have a good set of qualifications.
"This 'brain drain' will have repercussions for generations to come and will result in Derry being put into a cycle of deprivation that just cannot be broken.
"In addition to this, long-term unemployment is proven to have a detrimental effect on mental and physical health and can, in and of itself, contribute to a sense of benefit dependency.
"Of course, this dependency, along with those who do work hard to get off benefits, will be hit hard by forthcoming welfare reforms, which will do more harm than good as the Social Development minister happily implements the Tory cuts coming out of Westminster.
"The Executive must work harder to ensure that the North-West is no longer the poor cousin in the North of Ireland economy.
"Sustainable job creation and substantial investment, over and above the forthcoming signature projects in Derry such as the City of Culture must form a core part of any further economic policy coming out of the Executive and I will be lobbying ministers to that effect.
"It has long been stated that coming out of unemployment reinstates a sense of pride and a sense of purpose – it is high time Derry was given some of that pride back."
(CD/GK)
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