Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 5

Written Answers. - Unemployment Levels.

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

74 Mr. Kenneally asked the Taoiseach the number of people unemployed in Waterford city, Cork city, Dublin city, Galway city and Limerick city based on the latest figures available; the percentage of the workforce these figures represent in their respective areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21287/96]

The Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The number of persons on the live register in each of the above cities at the end of October 1996 was as follows:

City	Number of persons
Waterford	6,784
Cork	17,802
Dublin City/County	84,493
Galway	8,652
Limerick	8,635

It is not possible to relate the above live register figures to appropriate Labour Force Survey categories, for the purpose of calculating an unemployment rate.

The Labour Force Survey provides comprehensive annual information on employment and unemployment. This is a sample survey which provides regional data but does not provide separate results for counties or county boroughs. Statistics are available from the LFS in respect of the Dublin region, i.e. Dublin County Borough, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown. In April 1995, the estimated number of persons unemployed in the Dublin region, using the ILO definition, was 62,800 and the unemployment rate was 13.6 per cent. This compared with a national unemployment rate of 12.2 per cent.

The five-yearly Census of Population gives statistics on counties, county boroughs and smaller areas. The relevant results of the 1996 Census should become available early in 1998. The most recent results currently available are from the 1991 Census.

The following table shows the numbers at work, unemployed, the total labour force and the unemployment rate in each of the five cities in April 1991, using the Principal Economic Status (PES) labour force definitions:

City	At Work*	Unemployed*	Labour Force*	Unemployment Rate %
Waterford	12,799	3,395	16,194	21.0
Cork	38,624	10,343	48,967	21.1
Dublin County & County Borough	358,346	77,681	436,027	17.8
Galway	17,295	3,127	20,422	15.3
Limerick	15,180	5,151	20,331	25.3

*Principal Economic Status definition.