Unemployment rate - Redeploy surplus civil servants

The unemployment rate has risen to a 13-year high of over 12% and, despite some more promising figures released yesterday, economists predict unemployment will exceed 13% next year. In the past year the numbers have soared by 78%, to over 440,000.

In August the average processing time for those applying for the jobseekers’ allowance based on PRSI contributions was four weeks, and seven weeks for those applying for the means-tested allowance. But the waiting times fluctuate greatly across the country.

In four different counties people applying for welfare will have to wait until after Christmas to have their applications processed. In one area — Edenderry, Co Offaly — they will have to wait until next February, as the waiting time there is 22 weeks.