asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of citizens in the Saorstát at present unemployed, and the number drawing Unemployed Benefits, and if it is proposed to provide for those not in receipt of benefit.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED.
On the 20th June, the latest date for which particulars are available, the number of persons registered at the employment exchanges as unemployed was 18,151 and the number of benefit claims 11,637. Provision of work for persons not in receipt of benefit is being made through grants and advances for public works, guaranteed loans for industry and the protection of home-manufactured articles.
Mr. BYRNE
Can the Minister say whether any immediate arrangements are being made which will give any sort of relief to the six thousand people who are not drawing benefit at the moment?
A lot of them are getting relief through getting work.
Mr. BYRNE
I am not talking about those who are working.
You mentioned six thousand.
Mr. BYRNE
I mean the unemployed. I want to know if any effort is being made to give relief to the six or seven thousand at present unemployed and not drawing benefit or poor law relief, or money from funds of any sort. What are they to do?
There are not seven thousand not drawing unemployment benefit from relief works. There is a certain deduction which the Deputy has made as between the number of people registered as unemployed and those drawing benefit. A considerable number of those who are not drawing benefit are people who have ceased to be unemployed by the fact that they have got employment, and in respect of the others, provision is being made in the manner set out in the end of the reply.
How many thousands are not either employed or drawing unemployment benefit?
I would not accept the Deputy's statement of eighty thousand the other day because he did not know.
Could the Minister say how many thousand are not employed or not drawing unemployment benefit? I did not ask the Minister to ask me the question, but I have asked him one, and will he answer it?
I will have to ask the Deputy to give me notice of that question.