The level of seasonally-adjusted unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in seven years, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
There were 244,100 people unemployed in December, a fall of 1,900 on the previous month when seasonal factors are taken into account.
The total unadjusted live register figure has increased from 240,000 in November to 247,700 for December. This is mainly caused by temporary layoffs in the education sector over the Christmas holiday. The fall in the seasonally-adjusted total meant the increase due to these factors was not as large as would normally be expected.
The latest figures represent the largest decrease over a calendar year ever recorded, although there have been larger decreases from month to month.
The figures are the latest in a series of large falls in the seasonally-adjusted figure, a trend which began in the early 1990s.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, welcomed the figures and said he expected the seasonally-adjusted decrease to continue when the Budget changes took effect, combined with the Department's other measures to combat fraud and abuse by both claimants and employers.
The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) expressed caution about the figures, saying the disparity between the drop in the seasonally-adjusted figure and the rise in the unadjusted figure was "very much out of context with previous figures recorded for this time of the year".
A spokesman, Mr Paul Billings, said rapid changes in the labour market and a range of new work practices could mean the CSO figures were misleading.
The INOU said one of the most significant trends in recent figures was the increase in people claiming unemployment benefit. "A lot of people finishing Community Employment Schemes are now qualifying for unemployment benefit," said a spokeswoman.
The Fine Gael spokeswoman on employment, Mrs Nora Owen, said the rise in the unadjusted figures was an indictment of the Government's poor jobs policy.
The leader of Democratic Left, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, said the 7,700 increase in the unadjusted figures was "alarming". The figures showed there was no room for complacency.
"This is the biggest monthly increase for more than 18 months, and while there are seasonal factors involved at this time, the equivalent figures last year actually showed a drop."
He said the figures were likely to deteriorate when the job losses at Seagate Technologies and Noritake were "felt in full".
A Labour TD, Mr Tommy Broughan, said although unemployment was falling, the rate of decrease was too slow given the growth within the economy.
"It is clear this Government is not committed to helping people without jobs get back to work as the Budget was aimed solely at the better-off".
The figures show that while the level of male unemployment is considerably higher than the female rate, male unemployment is falling faster.
The figures show that at the start of 1997 female seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at just over 100,000, but this has fallen to only 95,300 for December.
In comparison, male seasonally-adjusted unemployment has seen a large drop from 165,800 at the start of the year to 148,800 for December.