More than 1,000 people have claimed unemployment benefit because of foot-and-mouth disease, official figures have shown.
Figures from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs show that up to April 23rd the number of people citing foot-and-mouth as the reason for claiming welfare benefit and assistance had risen to 1,031, from 442 a month earlier.
The figure includes people on the live register, as well as fewer than 100 people who claimed income support under the farm-assist scheme and people on systematic short time.
The farm-assist scheme was put in place in 1999 and is being used as a special measure to take account of the foot-and-mouth crisis. It is believed most job losses have occurred in the tourism and meat-processing sector.
Mr John Dully, chief executive of, Bord Failte and chairman of the Tourism Action Group, said job losses in the tourism sector from foot-and-mouth could reach 30,000 if the current situation continued until August.
The sector is currently in low season, and Mr Tony Monks, general secretary of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, said the full effects of foot-and-mouth on employment may not yet be seen.
He said people may not be able to sign off the live register and take up seasonal employment, which they usually do during peak times in the tourism sector.
Mr John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), said "things are improving" in the sector, which had "a good Easter", but some concern remains over business from the UK and US markets.
He said, however, that the number of seasonal workers hired would probably be down 10,000 on last year. But this figure may change, as it depends, among other things, on the success of current campaigns to reassure tourists.
The IHF has already estimated some £47 million has been lost nationally in the hotel and guesthouse industry. And not more than £5 million of this business is likely to be rescheduled, they estimate.
Ms Gina Quin , chief executive of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said business appeared to be returning to normal.