Opposition parties have attacked the Government over its alleged failure to tackle Ireland's unemployment crisis.
Figures released by the Central Statistics Office today show the number of people signing on to the Live Register of unemployment benefit claimants rose by 2,500 in August to 455,000.
The rise brought the standardised unemployment rate to 13.8 per cent last month, up from 13.7 per cent in July. It was 13.1 per cent at the start of the year.
Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív admitted “unemployment is still a matter of huge concern”.
He insisted the Government will continue to prioritise the creation of new jobs and work opportunities in the coming months.
"Growth in competitive employment is dependent on economic growth driven by fiscal and banking stability. It is now projected that there will be economic growth in 2010 with improved economic growth in 2011,” Mr Ó Cuív said.
Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Richard Bruton said about one third of those on the register were now classed long-term unemployed.
“And with Irish nationals representing the entire increase in the Live Register over the last 12 months, the recession is hitting Irish families more than ever before,” Mr Bruton said.
“The Government’s blinkered focus of writing whatever cheque is necessary to keep failed banks alive has blinded them to the human cost being felt in every corner and community of this country, and to the policy options that could make a difference.”
Labour's Willie Penrose said the numbers on the Live Register have increased by 313,000 since the Government was formed in May 2007. He estimated that the total annual cost of this in terms of lost tax revenues and additional welfare payments was about €6.25 billion.
Mr Penrose said there had been a “total failure” by the Government in tackling unemployment.
Sinn Féin enterprise spokesman Arthur Morgan said the latest figures showed the Government was "more willing to create a culture of welfare dependency and emigration” rather than investing in retaining and creating jobs.
“The ranks of the unemployed have swelled enormously, but this Government has done nothing. More young people than ever are graduating into an economy that does not have sufficient work for them, leaving them with little choice but to emigrate or to stagnate on welfare payments," said Mr Morgan “We need to realise a smart economy is one where Fianna Fáil and their cohort of banker and developer friends are not at the helm.”