asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if figures are available in his Department as to the number of persons at present employed in Ireland and how many of these persons are in receipt of weekly unemployment grants.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYMENT GRANTS.
The number of employed persons, excluding persons engaged in agriculture and private domestic service, is estimated at 250,000. This is the total number of persons within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme. On 28th August, the latest date for which figures are available, 40,623 persons were registered at Exchanges or Branch Employment Offices for employment, of whom 34,436 had lodged claims to Unemployment Benefit. The figures relate only to the 26 Counties. Approximately 87 per cent. of claims to benefit are allowed so that the number of persons actually in receipt of benefit on the above date would be 29,960 approximately.