asked the Minister for Labour the principal cause of loss of man days in industry; and if he will give the total man days lost owing to this cause in each of the last three years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loss of Man Days.
22.
Illness is the principal cause of loss of man days in industry.
In the benefit year 1967, the latest year for which figures are readily available, approximately 17 million man days were involved in the certified disability claims by insured workers under the Social Welfare Acts. This figure, which covers non-industrial as well as industrial employees, excludes a number of casual sick absences of three days or less, and also the absences of persons who are not insured under the Social Welfare Acts.
Has the Minister been able to take into consideration the number of man days lost due to unemployment?
The only figures available are those based on the records of those persons applying for benefit.
If the unemployed are taken into consideration, the number of production days lost because there are no jobs for those people is tremendous.
That does not arise on the question.
It does.
It is a different question altogether.
It is not.
It is, indeed.