SLIGHT RISE IN LIVE REGISTER LAST MONTH

NUMBER CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RISES BY 0.9% IN MARCH

THE number of people on the Live Register in Dundalk went up in March, the first rise in 2018, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO)

The slight rise of 0.9% showed that there were 4,036 claiming dole payments in Dundalk at the end of March, up from 4,000 in February.

Year-on-year figures do, however, indicate an overall fall in the number claiming unemployment supports, down 14.1% from the 4,654 who were on it in March 2017.

In the county as a whole, the number of claimants also increased last month, by 1.3% from 8,868 to 8,981.

But again, overall in Louth the number of people on the dole was down 14.6% from 10,521 in March 2017.

Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd responded to the recent figures, saying ‘Unemployment has greatly reduced from a peak of 16% in 2012 to 6% in March 2018 which is strengthening communities across the country.

CSO figures show that the number of people signing on the Live Register in Louth has dropped by nearly 15% in the last year alone’

Deputy O’Dowd added: ‘A big part of Action Plan for Jobs is encouraging entrepreneurs as they have been a massive part of Ireland’s recent job creation success.’

He also called on recent graduates to apply for the Government’s new ‘Competitive Start Fund.’

‘Final year students, and graduates with a third-level qualification within the last three years, who have a startup company can now apply for the Government’s new start-up fund worth a total of €500,000.

Following this up to 10 successful applicants will be award- ed up to €50,000 each,’ said the Louth TD.

The fund is aimed at those working across manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors including sub-sectors such as cloud computing, software-as-a-service, enterprise software, cleantech, gaming, mobile, apps and LifeSciences.

‘Aside from funding, this new fund provides valuable business support and networking opportunities to innovative entrepreneurs and companies at the start of their journey.

It also provides a platform for them to progress their businesses.

“The Fund is open for applications from today, Tuesday 10th April 2018 and the deadline is 3pm on Tuesday, 24th April 2018.

“Applicants must apply though Enterprise Ireland at www.enterprise-ireland.com/ graduatecsf where they will find full information on the fund as well as the eligibility criteria. In addition to written online applications, companies will be asked to prepare an online video pitch.