UNEMPLOYMENT fell again last month, but by only 900, the Central Statistics said yesterday. The Live Register of job seekers dropped to 255,100 at the end of May, compared to 256,000 in April. The annual change, since May 1996, showed a reduction of 26,700, the CSO said.

The number of young people - those under 25 - registered as unemployed also fell in May, again by just a small number. In total, 59,400 young people were on the dole at the end of May, 400 less than at the start of the month. The annual change for youth unemployment, however, shows a drop of 12,400.

In a statement, the Minister for Social Welfare Mr De Rossa chose to comment on the unadjusted figures, which show drop in the Live Register of 7,349, to 248,114. For the first time in six years, the total had fallen below 250,000, he said.

"The drop in the Live Register figures is due to the buoyant economy and the record level of job creation," he added.

Fianna Fail's deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, again accused Mr De Rossa of misrepresenting the situation by using the unadjusted calculations, and called on him to release the figures for long-term unemployment, which she said were overdue.

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed also called on the Government to use the more accurate figures. Far too little attention had been paid to the issue of unemployment during the election campaign, the INOU added.