5% Target Within Reach - Tánaiste Lowest Live Register Figure in Seventeen Years New Budget Measures to Further Reduce Unemployment - Harney "We Must Mobilise Our Full Labour Force Potential"

"When I launched the Employment Action Plan in 1998, my target was to reduce unemployment to 7% by the end of the year 2000, and my ultimate ambition to reduce this to 5% within four to five 5 years. Today, well ahead of time, this target is well within reach." This was the reaction from Tánaiste Mary Harney to the end of November 1999 Live Register figures released earlier today.

The figures released show the number of persons on the Live Register at 171,785 or 5.1%. This represents a 17.1% decrease on the same period last year and the lowest figure in seventeen years.

"We must not become complacent. We need to reduce these figures further and we can do this through the recently announced Budget measures aimed at reducing taxation, new work incentives including 5,000 extra places on the Back-to Work Allowance scheme and the establishment of a new training fund. These will act as real incentives to bring about a further reduction in the unemployment rate. We must continue our efforts to assist the unemployed gain entry to jobs and encourage the re-entry of those who have left the labour force." the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste continued "The challenge ahead is clear. This substantial decline in unemployment points to a further significant tightening of our labour market. We must continue to ensure that we mobilise our full labour force potential to meet future demand," the Tánaiste said.