THE number of long-term unemployed rose by 2,652 in the 12 months ending April 1996, bringing the total to 136,394, the highest figure ever.
Fianna Fail and the Irish Organisation of the Unemployed have condemned the increase.
The long-term unemployed are defined as those without a job for over a year.
And the latest figures show that most of these, 69,667, have been out of work for more than three years.
In contrast there has been a small drop in those unemployed for less than three months, suggesting the economic boom is benefiting the short-term unemployed only.
The figures were released yesterday by the Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald.
She announced at the end of a meeting of EU social affairs ministers that she was confident member-states would agree a strategy to tackle long-term unemployment during the Irish EU Presidency.
However, the Fianna Fail spokeswoman on enterprise and employment, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said the figures showed the Government's policies were not working. Since it had come to office the long-term unemployed had risen by 3,500, she said.
"Labour and Democratic Left ministers all pledged themselves to the cause of the long-term unemployed," she said.
"Yet after 18 months in government, and during an unprecedented period of economic growth, there are 3,500 more long-term unemployed than there was when they came to Government."
She called on the Government to put more resources into its Jobstart programme, which offers employers a subsidy of £80 a week to employ the long- term unemployed. She criticised the inadequacy of the £1 million budget for the programme.
"I understand that only 100 places have been allocated under the new scheme since it came into operation seven weeks ago." The Department has confirmed that figure. It argues that the scheme, like the Local Employment Scheme to combat long-term unemployment in jobs blackspots, needs time to find its feet settle if it is to be effective.
The INOU has asked the Government to "introduce a national guarantee of a job for the long-term unemployed". National chairman Mr Paul Billings said: "The Government's policy of under-funded piecemeal schemes and programmes is not adequate. We need real action to turn the tide."
While the breakdown in unemployment figures underlines the appropriateness of the decision of the Irish presidency to make unemployment its priority, it will not be welcomed by the Government.
The Social Affairs Council is examining best practice in all EU countries, Ms Fitzgerald said. It was necessary to tailor policies to both the needs of the market and the unemployed.
Ms Fitzgerald was optimistic that agreement could be reached on a European Company Statute, which would allow companies to register in one country and meet the requirements of company law across the EU, although she recognised that formidable obstacles lay ahead.