Unemployment figures lowest for five years

UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen to its lowest level for five years, as thousands sign off due to the Government clampdown on welfare fraud.

The live register at the end of November was 268,700 a fall of 5,100 - claimants on the month after seasonal adjustment. The fall follows a drop off of 7,600 claimants in October. Minister for Social Welfare Mr De Rossa said the reduction was due to a combination of the new anti-fraud measures, job creation as well as the development of schemes to facilitate people returning to work.

Over the past couple of months the Department has instigated an intensive television and radio ad campaign warning that it is getting tough on fraud, with 600 inspectors on the ground.

The number signing on the live register is now the lowest since December 199.

Like last month more people withdrew from the register in Dublin than other parts of the country, with 2,614 people signing off in the Dublin area.

Despite the falls, there is still a large gap between the numbers signing on and the numbers known to be unemployed on a Labour Force Survey basis.

Last night, the leader of the Progressive Democrats Mary Harney welcomed the fall. She said it "shows that the Government's crackdown on welfare fraud is making a significant impact."

Labour TD Tommy Broughan also welcomed the continuing fall in the live register figures while the deputy leader of Fianna Fail Ms Mary O'Rourke warned there was still no room for complacency. "Ireland continues to have the highest rate of long-term unemployment in the OECD and the Government's programmes to tackle the problem have not worked. CSO figures show the long-term jobless rate has risen by 3,500 since the Rainbow came to office."