asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will furnish an estimate of the cost to the State of 50,000 unemployed on the basis of existing proportions of insured and uninsured claimants, segregating such cost under the following heads:—(a) public assistance benefits, (b) insurance benefits, (c) cost of administering employment exchanges, and (d) other administrative expenses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Unemployment.
It is estimated that, on the basis of recent figures, 50,000 persons registering as unemployed on the live register would involve a weekly outlay of £38,900 for unemployment benefit and £15,800 for unemployment assistance. Bearing in mind that a large proportion of the cost of administration does not vary with the numbers unemployed, the estimated weekly cost of the staff at employment exchanges in respect of an unemployment figure of 50,000 is £4,700 and of other administrative expenses (including proportion of salaries, etc. of headquarters staff) is £3,400.