Vol. 429 No. 6
73 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Finance his views on the statement of the Justice Office of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors that, if the budget forecasts are proved accurate, the number of people on the live register will be very close to 330,000 by the end of this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An average of 309,000 was projected at budget-time for the Live Register in 1993. The Deputy will appreciate that, as the Live Register is subject to considerable fluctuations from one month to the next, it would neither be practical nor productive to attempt a projection for particular dates as far in the future as the end of this year. I consider, however, that an end-1993 Live Register forecast of 330,000 is too high. It would imply a serious deterioration in unemployment trends for the rest of the year. In view of the improving outlook for the economy, particularly as a result of the recent sharp falls in interest rates, I do not expect such a development.
