1st September 2010

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has slammed the Government’s continued failure to tackle the unemployment crisis currently facing thousands of graduates in Ireland.

Figures released today (September 1) by the Central Statistics Officer (CSO) reveal that the number of people under the age of 25 on the live register has decreased less than half a percentage (0.04%).

Of the 94,584 people under 25 that signed on last month, just 34 signed off the live register during the month of August. It is not clear if these 34 people found work in Ireland, or simply emigrated.

At this rate, provided that Fianna Fáil party remain in Government, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, will eradicate graduate unemployment in just under 231 years.

Based on the CSO statistics released this morning, the world’s oldest living man, Walter Breuning, would have to live his live twice over to see the fruits of our Government’s policy on combating graduate unemployment.

USI is calling again on Minister O’ Keeffe to take the necessary action to combat graduate unemployment in Ireland. His inaction is forcing thousands of Ireland’s highly skilled graduates to leave Ireland in search of work abroad.

USI President Gary Redmond said:

“The question remains as to whether this Government and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation in particular fully realise the extent to which the jobs crisis is affecting the people in this country. USI has proposed a national internship programme that would alleviate the huge problems associated with long term unemployment without financially burdening the taxpayer.

This proposal has had strong backing from private enterprise and yet the Minister continues to hide behind job announcements that have little to do with his Department in the first place. Batt O’Keefe has the chance to do something positive for the country with the national internship programme and USI is calling on him to take action immediately.”