Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - Unemployment Levels.

Brian Hayes

Question:

10 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Taoiseach the additional number of persons claiming unemploy ment assistance or unemployment benefit in the first two months of 2002; the increase in the corresponding period in 2001 in this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6430/02]

The Taoiseach

Information on number of persons claiming unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit in the second month of 2002 will not be available until Friday, 1 March 2002. In response to the Deputy's request the information, as available, is set out in the following table.

Number of persons signing on the live register

Date	Total Live Register	UB Claimants	UA Applicants	Other Registrants
End Dec 2000	141,586	53,779	75,531	12,276
End Jan 2001	142,071	54,678	75,645	11,748
End Feb 2001	139,515	54,687	73,412	11,416
End Dec 2001*	152,406	66,709	73,959	11,738
End Jan 2002	159,960	72,255	76,415	11,290
Period	Differences
Jan 01 minus Dec 00	485	899	114	-528
Feb 01 minus Jan 01	-2,556	9	-2,233	-332
Jan 02 minus Dec 01*	7,554	5,546	2,456	-448

*The information for December 2001 relates to Friday 21 December. For administrative reasons, due to the introduction of the euro, no figure is available for the last Friday in December 2001, which is the usual reference date for the series.

Questions Nos. 11 to 20, inclusive, answered orally.