The seasonally-adjusted rate of unemployment for June of 229,600 is the lowest since December 1990 and the percentage rate is the lowest since current records began.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that seasonally-adjusted unemployment fell by 2,300 during June. Since the start of the year seasonally-adjusted unemployment has fallen by 11,800.

The unemployment rate now stands at 9.2 per cent, the lowest level recorded since 1983 when the CSO began its current method of calculation. This compares to an EU average, according to the last figures compiled, of 10.4 per cent.

The number of people signing on the live register increased by 4,996 to reach 228,937. However, most of this is caused by the closure for the summer of schools and third-level institutions and the increase was less than would normally be expected. In the year to June there has been a decrease of 25,926 in those signing on the live register, with three-quarters of this fall accounted for by men. The seasonally-adjusted figures show that for June all the decrease is accounted for by men and there was no decrease in female unemployment during June.

Welcoming the figures, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs Mr Ahern said that "one person is leaving the live register for every two jobs created - a substantial improvement on the position in earlier years".

The Fine Gael spokeswoman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Nora Owen, said while the continued fall in the live register is welcome, "the challenge for this Government remains targeting specialised programmes to cope with those left on the register".

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) said the fall in those signing on the live register showed that Ms Harney's "threat of knocking people off the dole is vindictive and redundant".

The Labour Party spokesman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said there should be more focus on labour market programmes which focus on women. "It is disconcerting to note that the numbers of women joining the live register is increasing quite dramatically," he said.