asked the Minister for Labour the number of redundancies notified to his Department (i) for the first quarter of 1980, (ii) for the entire year of 1979 and (iii) for the first quarter of 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Redundancy Statistics.
28.
The number of redundancies notified to my Department as qualified under the Redundancy Payments Acts were as follows:—The first quarter 1980, 2,758; the entire year 1979, 7,560; the first quarter 1979, 1,744.
What are the expected redundancies for the current year?
That is a separate question.
In the light of the trend obvious in the figures given what steps are the Government taking to improve the situation? The numbers have risen from 1,744 in 1979 to 2,758 in 1980, over 50 per cent.
I am amused at the Deputy's way of reckoning 50 per cent.
There is a difference of approximately 1,000—1,744 and 2,758.
I am trying to answer the Deputy's question.
Do not cast aspersions on my mathematics please.
The situation in the first quarter in 1980 is not as good as it was for the same period in 1979, but it is the best, except for 1979, for most of the years when the Coalition were in power, and far better than those years. The Government will always be concerned about the redundancies situation.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 29——
May I ask a question?
No. We are moving on to the next question.
Question No. 29 withdrawn.