asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of men in County Westmeath who have lost unemployment assistance as a result of the recent Employment Period Order.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Period Order.
14.
The relevant statistics are not maintained on the basis of county of residence, but the total number of persons registered at local offices of the Department of Labour within County Westmeath who were disallowed under the order is 153.
It will be understood that because the functional areas of the local offices in County Westmeath overlap county boundaries the figures given will include some persons who are not resident in that county.
Am I to take it from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that the great majority of those 153 are resident in County Westmeath, that there would be occasional boundary overlapping but the majority would be in the county? Is that right?
I am afraid I have no more information than the information I have given the Deputy.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a sum of £1,000 has been voted to Westmeath County Council by way of extra assistance to employ 153 men? Is this not a ridiculous sum for that number of men?
It seems to be a different question.
(Cavan): And a hard one.
And a hard one to answer.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary initiate steps in his Department to provide these statistics on a county basis as requested?
That is a separate question.