asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Home Assistance Officers are now compiling figures as to the numbers of unemployed persons in their district; whether he is aware that in the course of such work, Home Assistance Officers in some cases merely call at Unemployment Exchanges and obtain figures of the numbers of persons registering, thereby providing a totally inaccurate return, and whether he will arrange that in order to provide an accurate return Trade Union officials in the different districts and other persons with local knowledge will be consulted.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - COMPILING STATISTICS RE UNEMPLOYED.
The functions of Home Assistance Officers do not come within my province, and the question should have been addressed to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.
Mr. MURPHY
I am very glad to have the Minister's correction, but I assumed that any matter affecting the unemployed in the country concerned the Minister's Department principally.
I am asked in the question if I am aware that Home Assistance Officers are now compiling figures as to the numbers of unemployed persons in their district. I cannot answer for Home Assistance Officers.
Mr. MURPHY
May I remind the Minister that we had a long controversy in regard to a question of a similar nature once before? I presume the information that was being sought in regard to unemployed was being sought at the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The presumption is wrong.
Has the Minister taken any official action to ascertain the exact number of people unemployed in the Saorstát since the Summer adjournment?
I have taken the only action open to me; I have had returns from the Unemployment Exchanges.
Has the Minister made any application to the Minister for Justice for assistance in the ascertainment of the numbers of unemployed?
I cannot say that I have made any application to the Minister for Justice in the matter.
Then the action of the Home Assistance Officers in compiling figures is without the authority or the knowledge of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce?
I may point out that the Home Assistance Officers are not responsible to the Minister for Justice.
That was a mistake of mine. It was the Minister for Local Government and Public Health I should have referred to. Perhaps that Minister can give information on this point?
If the question had been addressed to me, perhaps I would have been able to give some information.
May I correct my query? Has the Minister for Industry and Commerce sought the assistance of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health in respect to the ascertainment of the number of unemployed?
No.
Does the Minister intend to do that or to take any steps to ascertain the number of unemployed?
I have taken steps to ascertain the number of unemployed.
Not merely the number registered at the Labour Exchanges, but all the unemployed?
I have taken all the steps open to me in my Department to get correct figures in regard to the unemployed. When I did take steps to do the same last year it did not meet with the approval of the Deputies opposite.
Mr. MURPHY
Will the Minister say if the procedure taken in regard to this question is a reasonable way of getting at the information?
That would mean that I would be passing judgment on officials not in my Department, and I cannot consider that.
The Deputy can reconsider the question.