Vol. 405 No. 7
11 Mr. Pattison asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the latest data on the breakdown of the long term unemployed who have been out of work for (a) 12 months, (b) 24 months and (c) 36 months in Ireland; and the way in which this compares with other member states of the EC.
An analysis of the live register by duration of continuous registration is carried out twice yearly — in April and October. The latest data available relate to October 1990 and the analysis contains the full information requested by the Deputy for Ireland.
Details of the duration of registered unemployment are available for only five other EC member states. However, figures are not available for persons unemployed for three years or more. October 1989 is the latest reference period for which these data have been assembled by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information sought by the Deputy.
Following is the statement:
Table 1: Duration of continuous registration on the Live Register, 19 October 1990.
|
Under 12 Months |
1-2 Years |
2-3 Years |
3 Years and over |
Total |
|
120,217 |
32,341 |
19,629 |
46,071 |
218,258 |
Table 2: Percentage distribution of the registered unemployed in six EC member states classified by duration of continuous registration, October 1989.
|
Under 12 Months |
1-2 Years |
2 Years and Over |
Total % |
Total (000) |
|
|
Ireland |
53.8 |
15.9 |
30.3 |
100.0 |
220.0 |
|
Belgium |
45.4 |
13.9 |
40.7 |
100.0 |
423.6 |
|
Germany |
68.6 |
14.7 |
16.7 |
100.0 |
1,880.6 |
|
France |
69.2 |
17.2 |
13.6 |
100.0 |
2,598.1 |
|
Netherlands |
50.5 |
17.5 |
32.0 |
100.0 |
645.2 |
|
United Kingdom |
62.5 |
13.2 |
24.3 |
100 |
1,635.8 |
Note: The details are derived from the number of persons registered at employment offices in the various member states. The figures are not strictly comparable because of differing national legislation and administrative practices governing registration for unemployment.
Will the Minister agree that these figures are available from the OECD and that they paint a very black picture of unemployment in Ireland? Greece and Ireland are the two poorest performers in that area. The Minister's evasive answer is not acceptable and it is an indictment of Government policies to date in the area of unemployment. I know they have been successful in some areas but they have failed dismally in providing jobs for our young people.
I have dealt with the question in detail. I am circulating a more detailed response for the information of Deputies.
Let us now come to deal with questions nominated for priority.
May I put a final supplementary? The idea of putting down oral questions is to receive an answer in the House and so that we can follow through with supplementaries. Will the Minister please indicate the relative position of Ireland in relation to our EC partners in terms of unemployment rates?
The question before us is essentially statistical and matters of policy should not, therefore, arise. We have had a certain amount of policy in the matter.
The question referred to comparisons with other member states. It is a straightforward question, how do we rate in our battle against unemployment with our EC partners?
The Deputy should await——
Is the Minister unwilling to give that information?
For Deputy Howlin's information, the information I will circulate will show that Ireland is in quite a favourable position in relation to some of our partners.
We will now have questions nominated for priority, to the Minister for Labour. We are embarking upon questions to which a rigid time limit applies.
