Tipperary Unemployment Blackspots Must be Addressed – Cllr Cahill

Cllr Jackie Cahill has said that more needs to be done to address the unemployment blackspots present across Tipperary. The Fianna Fáil Councillor was reacting to the news that Lisheen Mines is putting in place a plan to wind down its operations and close entirely next year. Cllr Cahill has pointed out that Tipperary has lost significant industries in recent years with little being done to replace lost jobs.

Speaking following the publication of the closure plan for Lisheen Mines, Cllr Cahill commented, “It is bitterly disappointing to learn that Tipperary is set to lose another major employer next year. Many people have relied on Lisheen Mines for employment over the years and its presence has been of major benefit to the wider Tipperary economy. Unfortunately the loss of a major employer is nothing new for Tipperary people. In recent years Thurles alone has seen its sugar factory cease operations, the loss of Erin Foods and the closing down of Phoenix Yarns.

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“There have been many commitments made by elected representatives in recent years to bring new industries and jobs to Tipperary. However these commitments have not been delivered on. It is regrettable that the plan outlined to have BEET Ireland set up home at Lisheen Mines has fallen through. Unemployment in Tipperary remains above the national average. Significant unemployment blackspots remain in areas such as Thurles, Templemore, Roscrea and Tipperary Town. Many rural parts of the county have it even worse.

“I am calling on our TD’s to do more to lobby the IDA to bring jobs to Tipperary. We already know that the IDA failed to bring a single job to Tipperary last year. This is simply unacceptable. The government is talking up the economic recovery but the people of Tipperary are yet to feel it in their pockets where it matters most. We cannot have a meaningful economic recovery in Tipperary so long as the government’s strategy is solely focused on bringing jobs to Dublin.

Tipperary cannot be left behind as the recovery gets underway. Now is the time for our TD’s to step up to the plate and lobby at a national level to ensure that organizations such as the IDA start creating jobs in the Tipperary” said Cllr. Cahill.


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