Joe Behan - Independent Councillor - Wicklow County Council


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Standing Up For Arklow

Archive Statements > 2015

Standing Up For Arklow

Arklow people have been expressing to me their ongoing frustration about the lack of action to develop their town by successive governments.

For many years, Arklow was the industrial hub of County Wicklow but in the last thirty years most indigenous employment has disappeared.

This is a great scandal because many of the workers who lost their jobs in those years were highly skilled and wanted to continue to make a positive contribution to the livelihood of their families and the development of the town.


The most recent Census (2011) indicated that there were 6,347 people in the labour force in Arklow and of these, 71.9% (4,561 people) were at work. There were a staggering total of 1786 people unemployed. The unemployment rate for Arklow was 28.1% compared with a national average rate of 19.0%. This shocking statistic is clear proof that Arklow has been left behind and needs urgently to be the focus of targeted investment by central government.

Arklow has always had dedicated and hard working public representatives,who have consistently highlighted the advantages of Arklow and have spoken out at Council level for more to be done.

It is clear, though, that central government is not listening to these concerns. Arklow has never been treated as a priority for investment either in capital infrastructure or in employment initiatives.

It is time for someone to speak up nationally for Arklow and,if elected, I will ensure the voice of Arklow people is heard loud and clear in Dáil Éireann.

Joe Behan
Independent Candidate for Wicklow/East Carlow


Serving the people of County Wicklow since 1985 | joebehan@outlook.ie

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