Unemployment figures up 1,500

The Central Statistics Office has reported a rise of 1,500 in the number of people unemployed during the first three months of this year.

The CSO said 84,900 people were unemployed at the end of the first quarter of 2003.

Employment, however, grew by 26,500, or 1.5%, during the same period.

The CSO said employment increased in all the regions except Dublin, where the numbers fell by 1,200, or 0.2%.

June Tinsley, a spokesperson for the Irish Organisation for the Unemployed, said: "We're not really surprised, given the number of factory closures and lay-offs since the beginning of the year.

"However, we want people to be aware of the huge increases and to make sure that the unemployment issues go straight back onto the Government agenda."