The number of people out of work rose again in February as the first of the workers made redundant by Aer Lingus joined the dole queue.

Live register figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday showed a jump of 2,377 in the numbers claiming unemployment benefit last month.

After adjusting for seasonal factors, the live register increased by 4,500 to 160,800.

Aside from redundancies, temporary lay-offs in the meat processing industry added to February's figures, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs said.

Dawn Meats in Waterford and Galtee Meats in Kilmallock, Co Limerick were among those to let workers go on a temporary basis.

More workers in the education sector also signed on during the mid-term break while the figures also included workers in industries such as construction who had to sign on because of the inclement weather.

The Tánaiste, and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney said the increase in unemployment was not unexpected. But she said the jobless rate remained low at 4 per cent and was still among the lowest in the European Union with long-term unemployment at 1.2 per cent.

She acknowledged the figures did not reflect the full impact of redundancies announced recently. But she was confident the Government's policies would keep unemployment to the minimum pending the anticipated upturn in world economic conditions.

The CSO figures showed that the rise of 2,377 in the jobless number last month was made up of 1,592 men and 785 women.

The standardised unemployment rate in February was 4.2 per cent, up from 4.1 per cent in January and the highest level since May 2000.

The Labour Party said the figures pointed to the continued failure of the Government to deal with growing unemployment.

"In the past four months, the live register has increased by over 20,000," Labour's spokesman on Social and Community Affairs, Mr Tommy Broughan said. The party expressed concern about the growth of unemployment in Dublin and Cork over the last year.

The only good news last month came from the Border region where there was a slight drop in the numbers on the live register.

To help those who are unemployed, the Government has approved funding of €146,000 for the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU).

The money is to go towards their welfare rights and information services and the cost of producing an information booklet.