A ROW has broken out over the early release of unemployment figures with Fianna Fail accusing the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, of abusing his position.
Unemployment fell by just 600 last month, according to figures to be officially released on Friday; the number on the Live Register dropped to 255,400 from 256,000 in May, compared to a fall of 4,600 in April.
The figure is nonetheless a full 26,400 lower than the Live Register for May 1996, which was recorded at 281,800. It continues a downward graph from a high of 285,300 in August 1996, with just one break, in March, when the tally rose by 1,100.
Mr De Rossa revealed the less accurate, non-seasonally adjusted figures on RTE radio yesterday, three days ahead of the usual, first-Friday-of-the-month release, by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). He said the unadjusted figure of 248,411 meant that unemployment had "breached the 250,000 barrier" for the first time in six years.
Fianna Fail's deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, accused Mr De Rossa of "an abuse of office" and "misrepresenting the unemployment situation".
"Today's breach in relation to the release of the unemployment figures is blatant electioneering.
The Minister for Social Welfare has sought to use the seasonally-adjusted total every other month, but is now desperately attempting to mislead the public," Ms O'Rourke added.
In his statement, Mr De Rossa said: "There are now 40,000 fewer people claiming unemployment payments than in August 1996, indicating sayings of about £140 million.
But he stressed there "was no room for complacency", adding that the level of long-term unemployment remained unacceptably high.
"What we have seen over recent years is that creating jobs will not automatically solve the problem of long-term unemployment," Mr De Rossa added. "What we have also seen is that relying on the market to solve the problem will mean condemning whole communities to a never ending cycle of disadvantage."
He said the problem required a comprehensive approach aimed at tackling the educational, social and structural disadvantages of areas in which the bulk of long-term unemployed people are concentrated.
Ms O'Rourke said the CSO had confirmed to her that no final figures for May had been released.
"This is the latest sign of panic in the Rainbow. Last week they released the Exchequer Returns a month early in a desperate attempt to recover ground and claim credit," she added.
However, the long-term unemployment figures for the half-year to April, which have been due for weeks, were still being covered up, she added.