Irish unemployment rate dips to 14.2 pct

DUBLIN (AP) -- Official data show that unemployment has fallen slightly in Ireland, to 14.2 percent in January.

The rate announced Wednesday by the Central Statistics Office compares with 14.3 percent in December.

The nation's Standardized Unemployment rate has been above 14 percent every month since March last year, and above 10 percent every month since February 2009.

The country, once known as the Celtic Tiger for its strong economy, was hit hard in 2008 by the collapse of its overvalued property market, which in turn helped bring down the banking system. Ireland now relies on international bailout loans to avoid bankruptcy.