asked the Minister for Labour the number of unemployed persons registered in (a) Dublin city and (b) Dublin county employment exchanges on 1st June 1967, 1st December 1967, and 1st January 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.
50.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission a Cheann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Number of persons registered as unemployed at (a) Dublin city and (b) Dublin county offices for the dates specified are as follows:—
|
Office |
2/6/67 |
1/12/67 |
5/1/68 |
|
(a) Dublin City Exchanges: |
|||
|
Werburgh Street |
4,034 |
4,055 |
4,421 |
|
Gardiner Street |
4,215 |
4,364 |
4,843 |
|
Victoria Street |
1,746 |
2,035 |
2,082 |
|
Beresford Place |
2,378 |
2,793 |
2,973 |
|
(b) Dublin County Exchanges: |
|||
|
Dún Laoghaire |
884 |
1,071 |
1,171 |
|
Balbriggan |
114 |
133 |
151 |
51.
asked the Minister for Labour the total number on the live register for County Sligo at the latest available date; and what prospects there are for those looking for work.
The latest date for which particulars are available of registered unemployed for the whole of County Sligo is 31st May, 1968. The registered unemployed on that date was 1,474.
The Government provide valuable facilities through the Industrial Development Authority to encourage the establishment and the development of industries in all areas. Any sound proposals by local or other interests in Sligo are assured of these facilities.
The Employment Service of my Department places persons in touch with jobs that are notified to the employment offices.
52.
asked the Minister for Labour the percentage of the labour force unemployed in Dundalk and Drogheda in January, 1968; and if he will relate these figures to the national average percentage of unemployed.
According to the Live Register figures for 26th January, 1968, the percentages in relation to Dundalk and Drogheda were 10.7 and 14.2 respectively, compared with six per cent for the State as a whole. There has been a considerable improvement since January and the percentages for Dundalk and Drogheda have now been reduced to 9.4 and 11.9, the figure for the State being reduced to five per cent.
I should add that a survey of Drogheda showed that a substantial proportion of persons signing on at the exchange there are not available for work.
The drop in the percentage is a seasonal drop, is it not?
Is the Minister suggesting that many of the people who are signing on for unemployment benefit are, in fact, married women and are not therefore available for work? Is that the suggestion?
Actually a big number are married women signing for credits. The survey team concluded that practically none of the women and only about two-thirds of the men were available for permanent employment.
Surely it is a ridiculous assumption on the part of the survey team that people go to the exchange and sign for credits and are not available for employment. What is the object of signing on at the exchange?
It was not an assumption. It was a conclusion after interviews with people there. I am having further studies made to see if we can confirm how many people are, in fact, available for work.
Surely the Minister knows that those people who are signing on must have some reason. Does the Minister agree that the conclusion reached does not seem to be borne out by the fact?
The survey team came to a conclusion after having interviews with people locally. The Deputy is assuming they are wrong.
Is the Minister aware that I live within six miles of Drogheda and I know more about what the survey team did than the Minister?
Can the Minister inform us is the survey team now employed or unemployed?
Some members of the survey team are now employed by my Department on surveys in Waterford and Galway.