Live Register down again in September
The unemployment rate fell slightly last month with 408,670 people signing on for social welfare benefits.
Official figures revealed the rate dropped to 13.3% in September, with numbers on the live register down by more than 20,000 over the last year.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) report said there are 188,881 long-term unemployed who have been out of work for more than a year.
The unemployment rate, which is based on the live register that includes part-time and seasonal workers who can sign on, has shown a steady decline since it peaked in February last year.
Campaigners claim figures are masked by high levels of emigration and limited periods people are able to sign on.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore described the figures as very good news.
“We need to see it continued,” Mr Gilmore said.
“That’s why we need to continue the work we are doing to attract investment, get jobs created. We are seeing jobs being created at a rate of about 3,000 a month.
“We want to continue that. We want to accelerate that. In particular we want to put a sharp focus on getting employment opportunities for young people.
“That’s why we have the Youth Guarantee and that’s why we are working on proposals to get young people into employment where jobs are not available for them, into education and training.”
Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton also welcomed the news.
"That's a product, if you like, of the reform - and some of it very difficult - that has been ongoing in the Department of Social Protection to get people back to work," she said.
"Together with the 33,000 extra people at work in the six months up to June, it just indicates that finally our economy slowly but surely is moving in the correct direction," she added.
