It’s claimed there’s a sense of optimism in the air in Coastal Clare, as the live register figures for the county continue to show improvement.
Figures released by the CSO reveal that there are 160 less people drawing the dole throughout the county than there were a month ago.
In total, at the end of March, there were 5,655 people in Clare’s dole queues.
That marks a significant drop of almost 780 in the space of a year, while it’s also 160 less than at the end of February.
Coastal Clare has been the big winner.
Ennistymon and its surrounds now has 103 fewer people signing on, when compared with February, while in the Kilrush area, there’s been a drop of 38.
With the main part of the tourism season around the corner, Independent West Clare Councillor Christy Curtin says it’s a positive sign.
However, the positive developments haven’t been reflected in East Clare.
Dole queues in areas linked with the Tulla Social Welfare Office grew last month, with eight additional people claiming some form of unemployment assistance.
Bodyke Fine Gael Councillor Joe Cooney is putting this down to the inclement weather affecting the area’s strongest industries.
