The number of people claiming unemployment benefit increased sharply in June, according to the latest Live Register figures released today by the Central Statistics Office.
Total claimants rose by 11,747 or 7.1 per cent in June to 177,852. When seasonal factors are taken into account the seasonally adjusted total increased from 172,200 in May to 177,000 this month, a rise of 4,800.
The monthly increase reflected increases in all regions. The largest percentage increases were in the Midlands (+8.7 per cent) and the Mid-West (+8.1 per cent). The lowest increases were in the South-East (+6.1 per cent) and the South-West (+6.5 per cent).
In the year to June 2003 there was an increase of 13,575 or 8.3 per cent on the Live Register. June's increase leaves the standardised unemployment rate at 4.7 per cent.
Fine Gael's Mr Phil Hogan also rounded on the Government for its handling of the economy.
He called on the Government to freeze all charges and fees for the next year; insist on pay related performance in all sectors; seek value for money; demand more professional management in public spending; and revamp partnership to deal with the new economic challenges.
"This FF/PD Govt is now seven years in office and it is clear that they are failing to provide the strong leadership required to manage the economy in a competitive way into the future," Mr Hogan said.
Mr Brendan Howlin, Labour spokesman on trade enterprise and employment said the increase of almost 12,000 in the numbers on the live register is "truly shocking."
Mr Howlin added "These figures provide further evidence that the Government is sleep-walking in the face of a mounting job crisis."
Green Party spokesman, Mr Eamon Ryan TD, said the rise in the live register is a direct result of the Government's mismanagement of the economy.
"Fianna Fáil and the PD's will blame the job losses on the international downturn but the reality is that their spending splurge in the years leading up to the last election played a major part in stoking inflation and making our economy uncompetitive," he said.