The Government has been accused of showing “a lack of respect and care” to the town of Kilrush.
It comes as new data from the Central Statistics Office shows the male long-term unemployment rate in the West Clare town is over 12%, which gives it the second-highest rate of any town in the country.
A recent Pobal report, meanwhile, deemed Urban Kilrush the only “severely disadvantaged” area in Clare, with only 6% having attended third-level education and 47% of households recorded as lone-parent families.
Speaking during a visit to Dromoland, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath says he’s “very optimistic” for future of Kilrush, with Green Atlantic at Moneypoint coming down the tracks.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District and Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch says Government must invest in long-term employment opportunities for the town, instead of constantly falling back on Moneypoint.
You can listen to the full interview below.
