The rate of Irish unemployment fell last month. Figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the jobless rate falling to 11.9% at the end of February.

This brings the seasonally adjusted total number of people out of work to 398,300.

It comes as another 2,500 people come off the Live Register. The unemployment rate has now fallen by 1.9% in the last year.

The number of people in long-term unemployment last month was 180,496 - there was a decrease in the number of men and increase in the number of women in this category.

The Live Register saw a monthly decrease of 1,900 men and 500 women in February.

The number of male claimants fell by 9.3% to 247,381 over the year, while female claimants dropped by 3.4% to 150,688.

In unadjusted terms there was an annual decrease of 7.2%.

Chief economist from Davy Stockbrokers Conall Mac Coille thinks the level could fall further soon.

While the Taoiseach Enda Kenny used the figures to jibe at the opposition in the Dail.