asked the Taoiseach (a) the number of persons unemployed according to the Live Register total at the last date for which figures are available; and (b) the corresponding number for the same period last year.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Figures.
1.
asked the Taoiseach if he will give an estimate of the increase in unemployment that has taken place since 5 July 1977.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he will give an estimate of the change in the numbers of persons unemployed as between the latest date for which figures are available and the corresponding date last year.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together. The most recent live register total refers to 31 March when it stood at 111,014. This represents a decrease of 4,495 on the total of 115,509 for the corresponding date (1 April) in 1977. The position concerning other measures of unemployment, in addition to the live register, was explained in my reply to Question No. 3 put down by the Deputy on 14 March.
The live register total for the end of March 1978 is 1,676 higher than the figure of 109,338 for 1 July 1977 but this increase is considerably lower than the seasonal increase one would normally expect over this period.
Would the Minister of State mind giving us the figure again when he said that the number of people unemployed is higher than on 5 July last?
1 July. The figure is 1,676.
There are 1,676 more people unemployed now than there were on 1 July last. Is that correct?
Yes. I have just explained about this.
This is in spite of the fact that the Fianna Fáil manifesto for the election said that the figure would be 5,000 less a the end of December. We are now four months on from that and it is higher than it was when Fianna Fáil came into office.
The Deputy is mixing up the implications of the reply. On the basis of seasonal patterns over the past decade one would normally expect an increase of the order of 8,000 in the live register between the beginning of July in one year and the end of March in the following year. Despite the fact that the live register contains 1,600 more now than at 1 July last year the normal expectation following the pattern would be 8,000. We have improved by roughly 6,400 taking seasonal patterns into account.
Pie in the sky.
Leaving aside the implications and the verbosity is it not a fact that 1,676 more people are unemployed now than there were when Fianna Fáil came into office?
That is what I said in my reply. I have explained this.
The Minister of State has not explained it away.
The Deputy should compare like with like. Deputy FitzGerald knows in economic matters the importance of comparing like with like.
There is no mention of seasonal adjustment in the Fianna Fáil manifesto.
(Interruptions.)