The Live Register figures for September, released by the CSO this week, show unemployment in the Blanchardstown and Navan Road areas is down by over 12% year-on-year.

There were 6,618 people on the Live Register in Blanchardstown last month, a fall of 984, or 12.9%, on September 2014. In the Navan Road area, the Live Register was down to 5,059, a fall of 731 or 12.6%.

The news comes in the same week as IBM announced the creation of 110 new jobs, the large majority of which will be based at its Dublin 15 complex in Damastown.

Joan commented: “It’s very encouraging to see the continuing fall in unemployment in Dublin 15 and in the Navan Road area. It’s a sign, along with IBM’s announcement, that the jobs-led recovery is picking up speed.

She was speaking at the closing event for Jobs Week 2015, which took place in the Draoicht theatre in Blanchardstown. The social media and future skills training event featured Fair City actor George McMahon, better known as ‘Mondo’.

Joan described the event as “one of several excellent workshops that have taken place in Dublin 15 this week. The workshops have helped people who are looking for work gain the skills and advice that can help them gain a foothold in the jobs market”.

“My priority in government remains focused on creating good jobs and getting people back to work. We’ve added 125,000 new jobs nationally, and in Dublin West we’re continuing to attract new companies and create new jobs. IBM’s latest expansion this week will help contribute to our continuing economic and employment recovery.