I welcome the recent CSO data showing that disposable income in Cork households is on the increase. A a growing economy, with more people back at work, has brought about this positive development.

“The most recent CSO data shows that in 2014, all regions across the country showed increases in disposable household income.

“Here in Cork there was a 1.6% increase in disposable household income in 2014 compared to 2013. Across the South West region it increased by 2.2% in the same period.

“This positive development is thanks to our growing economy, which has seen more people back at work. Unemployment has fallen to 6.6% down from a high of 15.2% back in 2011. There are now over two million people at work.

“The increase in disposable income obviously has a positive knock on effect here in Cork as people have a little more money in their pockets, which is good news for local businesses and services.

“Fine Gael is working hard to build a fair and compassionate society with thriving communities across every region of Ireland. In order to do so we must protect and sustain the economic progress we have made, so that we can use it benefit the people who need it most. That economic progress has been hard won over the last 6 years. We cannot afford to throw it all away on other parties who would risk our recovery.

”Fine Gael is working day and night to ensure that every single family in Cork sees the benefits of an economy that is growing strongly once again.”