THE TÁNAISTE has indicated that job-creation measures will form part of the budget.

Eamon Gilmore said the biggest challenge was to address how to get people back to work.

“This must be the focus for everyone and it is at the centre of every single decision which the Government has made, is making and will make,” he added.

“I expect it to be reflected in the statements on the budget, which will be made next week.”

The Tánaiste was responding to sharp Opposition criticism of Wednesday’s increase in unemployment figures.

Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív said there had been a year-on-year increase of 4,500 people on the Live Register.

A closer inspection of the figures showed an increase of 9,500 in people over 25 years old while the decrease of almost 5,000 in those under 25 years of age was explained by extraordinary levels of emigration.

“This means the real rate of the rise in unemployment far exceeds the headline figure we were given yesterday,” Mr Ó Cuív added.

The Government had been in power for nine months, he said.

“The Tánaiste talks about unemployment and he talked about a jobs budget and all we got was a paltry jobs initiative that was really just an excuse for a raid on pension funds for pensioners to fund and bolster the coffers of the Government,” Mr Ó Cuív added.

Mr Gilmore said the Government had introduced a jobs initiative in May. As recently as last week, the Cabinet had agreed a number of measures such as the establishment of funds providing for the extension and availability of credit to small and medium-sized firms and start-up businesses.

A global Irish economic forum had been convened to bring together people from the Irish diaspora to help restore the State’s reputation and attract investment.

A strategic investment fund to generate employment had been established, as well as a new economic and recovery authority under which the semi-State agencies would operate, said Mr Gilmore.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said that some 448,600 people were out of work.

“Heaven help us if this is the Government working to put jobs first,” she said.

The figures showed an unemployment rate of 14.5 per cent and a shocking increase in poverty levels, she added.

“Some 22.5 per cent of people reported that they live in deprivation, which means being unable to afford a warm coat, struggling to heat one’s home and so forth.”

Ms McDonald said that, in “a very brash and unacceptable manner”, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar had told the population at large to cheer up and take a vacation, “although he may be really telling them to take a hike”.

Mr Gilmore said he understood that, while attending a tourism event on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar had made some remarks aimed at encouraging domestic tourism.