asked the Taoiseach the total number on the live register for County Longford at the latest available date; and what prospects there are for those looking for work.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Registered Unemployed.
1.
asked the Taoiseach the total number on the live register for County Westmeath at the latest available date; and what prospects there are for those looking for work.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The 31st January, 1969, is the latest date for which particulars are available of registered unemployed persons who were residing in the counties concerned. On that date, the total for County Longford was 1,022 and that for County Westmeath was 992.
A major aim of the Third Programme for Economic and Social Development—to be published tomorrow—will be to increase employment and output.
Does the Taoiseach think it will be any more successful than the First and Second Programmes, because the Taoiseach knows that, since they were introduced, 70,000 fewer people are in employment as compared with ten years ago? Does he envisage the Third Programme will be more successful than the First and Second Programmes?
I hope so.
Hope is very little use to the hundreds of thousands who have emigrated and the thousands who are unemployed. The latter cannot live on promises alone.
The Programme will contain very realistic terms.
Does the Taoiseach think that 70,000 fewer people at work represents success?
There is an average growth of four per cent per annum.
That does not matter. It was people who counted in the past.
3.
andMr. P. O'Donnell asked the Taoiseach the number of unemployed on the live register in County Donegal at the latest available date.
The number of persons, residing in County Donegal, on the live register on the 31st January, 1969 was 6,072.