Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Feb 1949

Vol. 114 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.

Mr. Lynch

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the numbers of persons in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit; (b) unemployment assistance, during the latest week in the year 1949 for which figures are available and in the corresponding week for 1948, in respect of each country.

Mr. Norton

The figures asked for are not available by countries but a statement has been prepared giving these figures on the basis of the areas administered by the Department's Local Offices situated in each county. I propose with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to circulate this somewhat lengthy statement with the Official Report.

The following is the statement:

STATEMENT showing the numbers of persons in receipt of

(a) Unemployment Benefit (including Special Benefit*);

(b) Unemployment Assistance,

during weeks ended 5th February, 1949 and 7th February, 1948, at Local Offices of the Department of Social Welfare situated in the following Counties:—

COUNTY	Number of recipients of Unemployment Benefit	Number of recipients of Unemployment Assistance
5th February, 1949	7th February, 1948	5th February, 1949	7th February, 1948
Carlow	383	380	243	293
Cavan	250	253	487	546
Clare	554	623	1,016	874
Cork	2,719	2,629	3,986	3,625
Donegal	681	873	8,713	7,719
Dublin	6,342	6,429	8,717	7,267
Galway	729	787	3,392	3,206
Kerry	1,038	995	5,988	5,712
Kildare	329	264	138	135
Kilkenny	318	268	224	262
Laoighis	180	178	59	39
Leitrim	181	345	1,688	1,452
Limerick	1,293	1,553	3,155	3,388
Longford	295	264	896	592
Louth	732	806	597	511
Mayo	522	572	7,936	5,989
Meath	233	241	258	260
Monaghan	412	221	142	147
Offaly	404	332	169	105
Roscommon	400	347	725	652
Sligo	265	340	1,207	1,331
Tipperary	1,047	931	654	710
Waterford	695	683	1,060	1,034
Westmeath	388	358	298	256
Wexford	424	518	901	1,074
Wicklow	444	375	318	312
TOTALS	21,258	21,565	52,974	47,491

*Special Benefit is payable under Part II of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1946, to persons who served in the forces of the United Kingdom during the war, and who at any time prior to such service were ordinarily resident here.

Mr. Childers

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the numbers of unemployed registered for the first two weeks of January and for the corresponding period in 1948, residing in rural areas.

Mr. Norton

The numbers of persons residing in rural areas and registered at the local offices of my Department on the 24th January, 1948, and the 29th January, 1949, the only dates in January for which figures are available, were 44,382 and 48,961, respectively.