Live register at its lowest in 20 years

The number of people without work in Ireland last month touched a 20-year low - but figures released today by the Central Statistics Office also highlighted the first effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis on employment.

The returns, the first since the start of the intensified farm disease alert, showed a monthly jobless increase of 300 after accounting for seasonal factors

They reported an unemployment total of 135,885, or 3.6% of the workforce.

The before-adjustment figure fell by 3,600 between February and March - as well as by 27,600 over the year - and the numbers were down in every region except the Irish midlands, where there was a slight increase.

The figures were welcomed by government and opposition parties, but the National Organisation of the Unemployed said the statistics did not report temporary lay-offs of close-on 600 people in agriculture and tourism-linked industries since the beginning of the foot-and-mouth emergency.

A spokesman said commendable efforts had been made to combat the disease, but called on the government to be equally vigilant in ensuring that those laid off would soon be able to return to work

Social, Community and Family Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern confirmed that the foot-and-mouth position had affected the latest figures.

And the Labour Party added the warning: "We are now facing a more difficult climate for the maintenance of the current level of job creation, against the background of the foot-and-mouth crisis, and the severe problems it has created for the tourism sector in particular".