asked the Taoiseach the numbers on the live register in the employment exchanges at (a) Drogheda and (b) Dundalk, County Louth, at the nearest available date and on the same date in 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.
10.
The numbers on the live register at the employment exchanges for the dates specified are:— Drogheda: 12th October, 1973, 1,215; 11th October, 1974, 1,359. Dundalk: 12th October, 1973, 956; 11th October, 1974, 1,761.
11.
asked the Taoiseach the total number of persons unemployed on 4th October, 1974, and on the same date last year.
The number of persons on the live register on 4th October, 1974, was 71,412 and the number on 5th October, 1973, was 60,910.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate if redundant persons are included and if professional unemployed people are included?
The only information I have got is of the kind which has been circulated to Deputies and which the Deputy would have received in the post. I will inquire into the further point put by the Deputy if he wants to pursue it.
Why has there been a delay in sending out statistics about unemployment, particularly in the week following the announcement of the figure of 70,000——
The Deputy is raising another matter.
I am not aware there have been delays. Speaking from memory, the figures for the week following the Deputy's week have been circulated.
There is a definite gap.
I can assure the Deputy there was no deliberate delay. As far as I know, there was no delay of any kind. I inquired whether the figures for the current week were available and if they would be available this afternoon in case I would be asked a supplementary question. I was told they were not yet ready.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell us if these figures include people in short-time employment and, if they do, how many?
I have already told the House that the only material I have to back up the reply I have just given is the same set of figures which Deputies have already received in the post. However, if the Deputy will give me an opportunity I will try to find that out for him afterwards.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state if there is any report as yet from the inquiry that was set up by the Minister for Labour into the rising unemployment figures?
That is a separate matter.
In view of the Parliamentary Secretary's statement that he will look into the matters raised, would he agree that the figures given do not give the entire information in regard to the unemployment situation throughout the country?
Naturally, information about a phenomenon like unemployment contained in a single foolscap sheet will not cover every element. That is obvious, but I am quite willing to discover what the Deputy wants if I can be sure I understand what he wants.