Good news on the unemployment front is now such a feature of Irish life that it is almost taken for granted. But the closing figures for last year, when the standardised rate of unemployment fell to five per cent in December, should be celebrated. Behind the statistics are individuals and families who have taken an opportunity to put deprivation behind them and re-fashion their lives to become part of a modern, thriving society. In the twelve months of 1999, the number of persons signing on the live register dropped by a total of 39,213. And while the register does not measure the unemployment rate, money saved in social welfare payments can be ploughed into training and employment measures. In that regard, a reduction of 39,000 in the live register translates into a Government saving of nearly £1.25 billion, plus income tax and PRSI payments by the newly employed.
Given that financial windfall, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, has pledged to increase the amount of money provided by the coalition government to get people back to work this year and to expand existing employment and education schemes. The minister was particularly pleased that the live register figures showed the lowest end-of-year returns for 19 years and a further fall of 5,400 (seasonally adjusted) on the previous month's total.
Twelve years ago, unemployment levels were treble their current rate and the size of the national debt threatened to swamp the economy. Now, there are skills shortages in many sectors, our national debt is the second lowest in the EU and there is continuing high growth in the economy. The IDA is refocusing its efforts in a move to attract only highly-skilled, value-added jobs. And regionalisation has become part of government policy as Dublin and the east coast become increasingly congested. In spite of that, the area remains the dynamic hub of growth as was evidenced by the announcement of a £500m investment by the semiconductor company, Intel, which is expected to bring a further 600 jobs to Leixlip, Co. Kildare.
During the past year, Enterprise Ireland supported the creation of 13,000 full-time, indigenous jobs, but 10,000 jobs were lost through closures. And there was a net job loss in some parts of the west. Talk of regionalisation and of spreading economic growth more equitably will remain only talk unless the Government adopts more radical measures to improve the attractiveness of the west, midlands and border regions for inward and indigenous investors. The seven-year national plan, 2000-2006, breaks little new ground in that regard and continues to allow market forces give the lead on industrial development. Unless there is massive new investment in roads and airports, and in services such as broadband technology, electricity, water and sewage for the Border, Midland and West regions, they will continue to lag behind the high-growth areas of the East coast which are already scheduled to receive the bulk of planned Government expenditure. Unemployment black spots in our major cities deserve special Government attention, but the needs of the deprived regions are more pressing.