Unemployment rates
There has been a significant drop in the number of people signing on the Live Register. Below are the figures for the number of people signing on the live register for 2015 and 2016 in Cobh, Fermoy, Midleton, Mallow, Youghal and Cork County overall.
Area October 2015 October 2016
Cobh 913 773
Fermoy 1,737 1,473
Midleton 2,321 1,921
Mallow 1,874 1,527
Youghal 1,407 1,219
Cork County 29,919 25,178
In terms of unemployment rates, on a national level the unemployment rate was 7.7% for October 2016 dropping from 9.2% in October 2015.
65 Jobs at Kerrygold in Mitchelstown
The opening of a new €38 million production facility at Kerrygold in Mitchelstown created 65 new jobs in September 2016. The €38 million butter and packaging facility will have a production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of butter per year and will initially employ 65 new people.
Kerrygold is the flagship brand of Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products. Currently Ornua exports to over 110 countries and the expansion of the Kerrygold brand sales are a key part of its growth strategy. This new facility will allow for the expansion of retail sales and enhance production and innovation capacity as it can produce new butter products not currently available on the Irish market and will house a “Green to Gold” customer innovation centre.
Irvine Oil
Whitegate Refinery was sold to Irving Oil in September 2016. This sale ensured the continued employment of the exiting 160 staff and many contract personnel and also the security of our national energy policy.
Whitegate is our only oil refinery with a processing capacity of up to 75,000 barrels of crude oil per day and produces transport and heating fuels such as diesel, kerosene and gasoline.
Its continued operation is very important to my constituents and also to our national economic growth and energy security.
Funding to Promote and Support Women’s Entrepreneurship
€1.2 million is being made available for projects to support women’s entrepreneurship. SECAD in Cork East will receive almost €300,000 in funding 794 to develop a Women’s Rural Entrepreneurship Network as announced recently by the Tánaiste and I. I would hope that with financial and mentoring assistance from SECAD, women living in more rural areas of South and East Cork will be supported and encouraged to set up and manage their own businesses.
Cork City Partnership and IRD Duhallow Ltd will receive €202,467 and €289,049 respectively under the Gender Equality Women Returning to Work Fund. Ballyhoura Development CLG will receive €316,552 for an initiative to promote healthcare employment opportunities for women.
In total, €1.3 million has been made available to groups in Cork County which will allow them to expand and build on the existing supports and services they offer in their communities.
