asked the Minister for Labour the current number of persons employed on social employment schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Employment Schemes.
17.
The total number of persons employed on social employment schemes as at end March 1989 was 8,300.
I welcome the recent increase because the number employed on social employment schemes in December was a mere 668. Apart from the economic factor there may have been climatic factors influencing the number at that time. However, in view of the fact that there are 240,000 people out of work and that approximately 40,000 emigrate per annum, and in view of the fact that these people are all receiving up to £40 a week unemployment benefit or assistance, does the Minister not think that we should use the social employment scheme to a greater extent as there is obvious potential there for giving people jobs, a return to the State for money they are paying out, and for giving people the dignity of work?
The Deputy will understand that his question was essentially a statistical one and that matters of policy do not arise at this stage.
Perhaps the Minister might decide to answer——
I am calling Deputy Mitchell. I trust that Deputy Mitchell will take the point made by the Chair.
Will the Minister confirm that this increase of 7,600 since December has resulted in a reduction of the same number of people on the unemployment register in the same period?
The figure goes up and down each month depending on the end of projects and so on. Did the Deputy say it was 600 at Christmas?
It was 668 in December 1988.
It is surprising that the Minister does not know.
I do not want to contradict the Deputy, but the figure is always somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 people. It could not have been down to 600. It must have been 6,000.
Question No. 18.
Later today, will the Minister let us have information in relation to the increase in numbers since Christmas and the impact that has had on the unemployment register?
I will. I do not have the Christmas figure, but I believe it to be in excess of 6,000.
Obviously somebody cannot count.
Is somebody hiding the figures?
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Jim Higgins.
In view of the fact that the Chair is insisting on——
Perhaps if I asked a question on the December figures——
The Minister is very badly briefed if he is not aware——
Deputy Mitchell may not be aware, but his colleague Deputy Jim Higgins, who is standing behind him, is in possession.
The information I gave was elicited by way of a written parliamentary question. In view of the fact that the figure is now in the region of 7,000, is the Minister prepared to indicate to the House what is the projected figure for the coming year?
I will certainly do that. The figure for March is 8,300. The present activity level of the scheme for this year would be 9,600.
Is there budget provision for that?
Yes.
Question No. 18 please.