Hanafin: Live Register figures 'grounds for hope'

The Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin has said the latest Live Register figures are "grounds for hope and optimism".

The Central Statistics Office said an additional 1,100 people signed on in November - bringing the seasonally adjusted Live Register total to 423,400.

As a result the rate of unemployment remains unchanged at 12.5%.

Minister Mary Hanafin said the figures are "encouraging".