OVER 13,500 people have applied for 700 seasonal jobs with chain store Argos over the Christmas and New Year period.

The company, which began its recruitment drive two weeks ago, said the amount of applications received has been "a challenge".

"This has been a huge response," a spokeswoman said. "It is great to see the amount of people across Ireland who want to work for us."

The company is now in the process of replying to successful candidates only.

Willie Penrose, Labour Party spokesperson for enterprise, trade and employment, said the figures will quash the notion that Irish people do not want to work.

"There is very little seasonal employment at all. This just shows that people are willing to seek out their employment opportunities and that they do not want to be on welfare.

"This is a common perception out there and yet these figures show that it is not true," he said.

"In the absence of any real jobs stimulus people have to apply for the seasonal employment and the majority will not get it.

"There have been a few positive announcements on the jobs front over the last while and I would like to acknowledge that but it is not enough. The government need to re-orientate themselves and start being helpful to those looking for jobs.

"The people I meet in my clinics all tell me that they want to be working, but they simply cannot find a job," he said.

Fashion giant Forever 21, which is due to open a store in the Jervis Shopping Centre next month, has just completed its own recruitment drive for 250 jobs. It said it is happy with the amount of applications received.

"There was a fantastic response to the two-day event and this led to us being 90% recruited after the event. We have then also been able to recruit the final 10% as well as Christmas temp vacancies from all the applications received," said a spokeswoman.

Brown Thomas is currently advertising 150 seasonal jobs, but has yet to compile figures on the amount of applications they have received.