Jobless rate falls as 20,000 fewer people claim benefit

The unemployment rate fell slightly last month with 408,670 people signing on for social welfare benefits.

Official figures revealed the rate dropped to 13.3% in September, with numbers on the Live Register down by more than 20,000 over the last year.

The CSO report said the number of long-term unemployed — people who have been out of work for more than a year — stood at 188,881.