THE NUMBER of foreign nationals applying for unemployment benefit has increased by almost 80 per cent over the past year, new figures show.
The increase has been felt most sharply by members of former EU accession states, with numbers jumping by some 144 per cent since September of last year.
A breakdown of live register figures for last month by the Central Statistics Office shows a total of 240,000 people were signing on, a rise of almost 50 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Of this, the vast majority were Irish (83 per cent, or 199,000) and the remainder were foreign nationals (17 per cent, or 41,200).
The CSO's figures - based on data supplied by the Department of Social and Family Affairs - do not provide a breakdown by nationality. The proportion of foreign nationals in the workforce is estimated to be about 17 per cent.
A breakdown of live register figures for foreign nationals shows most are from former EU accession states (8 per cent), followed by UK nationals (4 per cent), those outside the EU (3.4 per cent) and the "EU 15" (1 per cent).
The increase in numbers applying for unemployment benefit or the jobseekers' allowance in the past year has been dramatic for foreign and Irish nationals.
The number of Irish has increased from 147,000 to 199,000 (40 per cent) between September of 2007 and 2008, while foreign nationals signing on have increased from 23,200 to 41,200 (77 per cent).
The data also shows the mid-east region - which includes commuter belt counties such as Kildare, Meath and Wicklow - has seen the highest rise in unemployment rates over the last year. The CSO says numbers signing on in this area jumped by 64 per cent since September of last year.
Dublin, which is measured as a separate region, experienced the smallest percentage increase in live register figures over the past year, at 40 per cent.
Overall, the live register has jumped by almost 50 per cent over the last year. Some 79,565 people have signed on over the past year, taking the total number of claimants to 240,217. The live register is based on the number of claimants for the jobseekers' benefit, applicants for the jobseekers' allowance and applicants for credited social welfare contributions.
Responding to the figures yesterday, Fine Gael's immigration and integration spokesman, Denis Naughten TD, said the proportion of foreign nationals joining the live register highlighted the need for extra language supports. "By equipping migrants with the required English language skills, it will allow them move up the value chain which will in turn benefit our economy," he said.
The estimated overall rate of unemployment rose to 6.3 per cent in September, up from 6.1 per cent in August, according to the CSO.