Recently released figures from the Central Statistics Office, (CSO), shows an increase of over 7% in the numbers unemployed in Meath, over double the rise in the second highest county, Laois.

Source have attributed the dramatic rise to the closure of Tara Mines.

A CSO statement revealed;

The seasonally adjusted Live Register total for January 2024 was 176,700 people, up by 1,400 people or 0.8% from December 2023.

  • The unadjusted Live Register total stood at 177,264 people for January 2024.
  • Of the 177,264 people on the unadjusted Live Register in January 2024, 55.0% were male and 68.7% were Irish.
  • The 35-44 age group made up the largest number of those on the Live Register in January 2024 at 41,883 people or 23.6% of the total.
  • Four counties saw an increase in the number of people on the Live Register in the 12 months to January 2024: The largest increases were in Meath (7.5%) and Laois (3.7%).
  • There were 114,753 people on the Live Register for less than one year, representing a decrease of 8,424 over the 12 months since January 2023.

The CSO points out, ‘People arriving in Ireland from Ukraine under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) can access a wide range of Department of Social Protection (DSP) supports. The majority of new applications for income support from people of working age are being processed as Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) claims until the most appropriate income support for that person is identified. This facilitates access to existing part-time work supports where appropriate. If a person is on JA for 20* claim paid days or more, they are counted on the Live Register.’

*Before October 2022, persons availing of TPD were included in the Live Register when they had been in receipt of JA for 50 days or more.