Our disposable incomes rising

DISPOSABLE income in Wexford households is on the increase, with the growth rate the third highest in the county according to the latest CSO figures.

Minister Paul Kehoe credits a growing economy, with more people back at work, for this positive development.

‘ The most recent CSO data shows that in 2014, all regions across the country showed increases in disposable household income.

‘Here in Wexford there was a 5.1 per cent increase in disposable household income in 2014 compared to 2013, which is the third highest increase in the country.

‘Across the South East region it increased by 4.4 per cent in the same period.

‘ This positive development is thanks to our growing economy, which has seen more people back at work. Unemployment has fallen to 6.6 per cent down from a high of 15.2 per cent back in 2011.’

Minister Kehoe said the increase in disposable income obviously has a positive knock on effect in Wexford as people have a little more money in their pockets, which is good news for local businesses and services.

‘We are seeing the evidence of this in the latest Enterprise Ireland figures, which show that 197 new full and part-time jobs were delivered in 2016 by the 187 small businesses in Wexford that have been supported by the Local Enterprise Offices.

‘ These businesses support a total of 1192 jobs here in Wexford. No doubt they will benefit from this increase in household disposable income locally, and we will see further jobs created by small businesses,’ he said.