Numbers signing on down by almost 3,000 last month

The number of people signing on for social welfare benefits fell by nearly 3,000 last month, according to CSO figures out today.

The statistics show 2,000 women and 900 men were removed from the Live Register during September.

The total number signing on stood at 155,300 during the month, a decrease of just over 1,000 since September 2005.

The National Organisation for the Unemployed has welcomed the drop, but has also warned that things could change in the coming months.

Spokesman Eric Conroy says redundancies so far this year have been similar to the high level last year and job losses announced in September would not be impacting on the Live Register for another few months.