Unemployment rate falls to 11.9%

The number of people on the Live Register fell by 2,500 in February, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

Unemployment has fallen to 11.9%, according to figures on people claiming dole payments.

The Live Register has recorded a total of 398,069 people signing on – further evidence of significant improvement in the labour market after a report last week showed 61,000 more people in jobs last year.