OFFICIAL data show Ireland's unemployment rate fell slightly to 13.5 percent over last month.

The Central Statistics Office said yesterday that the number of people claiming jobless benefits - which also include payments to low income workers - was 425,002, also slightly down on October.

However, the number of benefit claimants has risen 2.8 percent over 12 months, reflecting Ireland's economic troubles.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Sunday said the country had agreed a deal for up to 67.5 billion euros (US$89 billion) in international bailout loans.

Cowen has already announced a four-year program of deep budget cuts and tax hikes totaling at least 15 billion euros.