Numbers signing on across Louth on the rise

There was a rise across Louth last month in the number of people signing on the Live Register, according to the latest figures released today by the Central Statistics Office, both on a monthly and annual basis.

3,246 people signed on in Dundalk in February. It is up marginally from 3,241 in January 2026, but also up from 3,239 in February 2025.

Ardee also saw a small increase in the number of people signing on in February, with 697 signing on, compared to 691 in January, and also 691 in Februrary 2025.

Drogheda saw the highest increase in the number of people signing on, with 3,283 signing on in February, compared to 3,241 in January, and 3,218 in February 2025.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted Live Register fell by 200 people to 170,700 people in February 2026. The unadjusted Live Register total stood at 169,507 people for February 2026, of which 56.6% were male and 71.1% were Irish. This is an increase of 4,200 people or 2.5% when compared with February 2025.

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Commenting on today’s release, Conor Delves, Statistician in the Labour Market Analysis Section, said: "There were 12,532 people benefitting from the EU's Temporary Protection Directive included in the Live Register figures for February 2026, which was 62 fewer people than January 2026.

"The counties that recorded the largest percentage decreases in numbers on the Live Register in the 12 months to February 2026 were Monaghan, down 162 people (-8.3%) and Laois, down 148 people (-4.7%). The counties that recorded the largest percentage increases were Dublin, up 3,838 people (+8.9%), and Wicklow, up 279 people (+6.1%).

"The number of people on the Live Register for one year or more in February 2026 was 53,179, which was 3,482 fewer people (-6.1%) than in February 2025. There were 116,328 people on the Live Register for less than one year, which was 68.6% of the total number of people on the Live Register.”