Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has welcomed the release of the latest quarterly economic bulletin from the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) and said that their findings, particularly around low pay combined with skewed economic development, needs to be honestly and urgently addressed by the Government.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The figures released from NERI are refreshing in that they cut through the nonsense being pedalled by Government of a recovery across Ireland.

“It’s clear, even from a cursory look at the NERI research findings, that jobs and any economic recovery is skewed towards parts of the East Coast and Dublin, and many other areas are experiencing little or no growth.

“The think tank said that 94 per cent of the 29,000 new jobs created in the economy last year were in the eastern part of the country centred on the greater Dublin area. At the same time full-time equivalent employment declined in the West (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon) and the Border county regions, and has stagnated in the southwest area (Cork and Kerry).

“This jobs growth is not replicated even within Dublin with many areas, including parts of my own constituency like Tallaght, seeing job losses rather than new job announcements.

Crowe continued:

“Despite the Government’s rhetoric on Ireland’s supposedly successful economic recovery, a quarter of workers, which equates to about 345,000 people in the labour force, earn an hourly wage of less than the living wage threshold of €11.45 per hour.

“These workers are struggling to get by on low pay and 60% of them are women. This clearly shows that it is primarily women who continue to be unduly affected by low pay, short or zero hour contracts, and poor working conditions

“Of all those on low paid, 25% are employed in the wholesale and retail sector, and as we have seen consistently from other studies, it is women again who are predominantly employed in these sectors.

“The quarterly report is a welcome addition to the debate around the so called recovery and who is benefiting in reality. NERI also raises uncomfortable questions for Government apologists around the type of jobs becoming available and where they are located.

“It is clear that the NERI findings need to be honestly addressed by the Government, particularly the loss of jobs in different areas across the State and the two-tier recovery they are creating.”

ENDS