With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
As recently as the 5th January last, the Live Register total was lower than that for the corresponding date in 1962. There was subsequently a progressive increase in the 1963 totals, over those for 1962, until the 26th January, when the figure exceeded that of the corresponding date in 1962 by more than 10,000.
The returns from the local offices of the Department of Social Welfare make it clear that the very severe weather conditions experienced last month are the main cause of the increased unemployment, which has affected all parts of the country and has hit, in particular, those employed in agriculture and in building and construction—including county council road workers.
There is every reason to expect that the return of fair weather will be followed by a rapid increase in employment which will bring the situation back to what it was in recent years.