asked the Taoiseach the percentage unemployed in respect of each of the Twenty-six Counties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Figures.
1.
The most recent available information on the percentage unemployed in different areas relates to the quarterly compilations for planning regions of the ratio of the number of insured persons on the live register to the total insured labour force. The regional subdivision of the latter aggregate is based on the location of the local employment office where each insured person is registered and as this may differ in a significant number of cases from the office where an unemployed person may sign in order to apply for unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance, disaggregation of the data according to areas smaller than the planning regions would not yield meaningful results.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information.
Following is the statement:
Percentages unemployed for different planning regions on the above basis for mid-September 1978.
|
Planning Region |
Percentage Unemployed |
|
East |
9.1 |
|
South East |
10.5 |
|
North East |
12.6 |
|
Midlands |
8.8 |
|
South West |
9.5 |
|
Mid West |
10.5 |
|
West |
10.3 |
|
North West and Donegal |
16.0 |
|
State |
9.9 |
In view of the difficulty of county checks on these things, I ask the Minister whether in the cases of the highest percentage any particular special effort is, has been or will be made to change this situation? In other words, has anything special been done for the highest unemployment areas?
The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy and the IDA are continuously endeavouring to channel further industry and further industrial expansion into those areas.
In view of the fact that the Minister's statement will show that the highest unemployment percentages persist in the same areas despite the alleged best efforts of the IDA and the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, will the Government make renewed and redoubled efforts to bring in the new schemes to try to change this situation? It is a continuing situation where the higher percentage remains the higher percentage.
The figures I have deal with the latest available dates. The Deputy asked if there has been an improvement or deterioration. I have not got the figures of, say, five years ago.
I understand that, but I have a fairly good idea of what the position is about the better areas.