Figures showing 154 fewer people under the age of 25 signing on the Live Register in Mayo now than 12 months ago should not be regarded as a vindication of Government policy in the area of creating employment but as a stark reminder that the emigration of young people from this county has raised its ugly head again,
This is according to Mayo Fine Gael TD, John O’Mahony who stated: “As seen on the RTE documentary Departure Day on Monday night, young people are leaving Mayo and that is the reality. Our brightest and best are voting with their passports and leaving to look for employment elsewhere. It’s a terrible indictment of Government policy that emigration has returned in such huge numbers but it’s where this county now finds itself.
“Mayo people have always emigrated, often voluntarily, but mostly because circumstances forced them to. That day looked to be long gone but sadly it has returned with a vengeance,” he added.
Deputy O’Mahony also said that the overall figures on the Live Register make for sombre reading for Mayo people. “The figures for the end of December showed that there were 729 more people on the Live Register than there were for November, while there was a yearly increase of 515 more people signing on in Mayo.”
