Press release
Minister Doherty welcomes Live Register figures
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Employment Affairs and Social Protection Minister, Regina Doherty, T.D. has welcomed the latest Live Register figures published by the CSO today, which show that, overall the Live Register continues to fall rapidly. Compared with October 2016, the Live Register for October 2017 has dropped from 276,809 to 236,492, which represents a year-on-year decrease of 14.6%.
Minister Doherty said: “Today’s figures together with the unemployment rate of 6% also published this week, reflect the continued improvement in the Irish economy which, in turn continues to give employment and creates jobs. The number of long-term unemployed people on the Live Register at the end of October 2017 dropped to 101,590, a decrease of 3.6% on the previous month, September 2017 and an 18.6% decrease on October 2016. This Government will continue to focus on driving the economy and providing better opportunities for people while at the same time ensure that it helps those citizens who are most vulnerable.”
The Minister also reminded jobseekers on the Live Register who may wish to take up seasonal work (for up to 12 weeks duration) between now and the Christmas /New Year period that their claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Benefit will resume immediately after their work finishes. “I want to reassure jobseekers and employers that where jobseekers on the Live Register get temporary seasonal work of up to 12 weeks, their social welfare payments will resume immediately after the work finishes. Once the jobseeker informs their local social welfare office before they commence the temporary work, their claim will continue without any delay afterwards.
“Today, I am calling on employers and the self-employed business owners who will become particularly busy between now and Christmas to consider giving an opportunity of temporary work to a person on the Live Register. If you have temporary work available during the coming weeks over the Christmas and New Year season, be it in the hotel, catering, retail or other industries, I urge you to contact the Department’s Intreo service in your area where my officials will help you recruit temporary staff that best suit the roles on offer. ”