asked the Taoiseach what is the average figure represented by the category described as excluded from the number on the live register as defined by the note on the weekly return from the Central Statistics Office relative to the number on the live register at local offices of the Department of Social Welfare.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exclusions from Live Register.
5.
For the 11 weeks 7th January to 18th March, 1966, the average numbers excluded from the live register (as defined in the footnote to the weekly live register statement) were: smallholders 11,146 and others 141.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to say, in this somewhat technical connection—for the purposes of comparison with the unemployment figures for previous years—if, in effect, we removed 11,000 from the numbers of unemployed by the device outlined in paragraph 2 referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary?
The Deputy will appreciate that because of this change, it is expected there will be a considerable increase in the number of these smallholders eligible for unemployment assistance.
I should like to know —in the context of paragraph 2 referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary—what is the basis of comparison with the returns for the previous years?
There can be no comparisons.
I suspect that what we are now in the process of doing is reducing unemployment by the manipulation of figures.
In that case we could abolish it by withdrawing unemployment assistance altogether.
I am not at all sure that the Government are not heading in that general direction.
Is the Taoiseach aware, when he anticipates a greater number of smallholders coming in, that it is our experience that the numbers in the offices of the Department of Social Welfare are diminishing?
There has been a substantial increase and the Deputy knows it quite well—in Mayo, in particular. The Deputy should put down a question and find out how many.
Those who have not been sent to Birmingham are now being eliminated.