asked the Taoiseach the total number of persons registered as unemployed at the latest available date and on the corresponding date in each year since 1952.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Registered Unemployed.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information. The comparability of the figures over the period is affected by administrative and legislative changes.
Following is the statement:
NUMBER of persons on the Live Register† on 28th November, 1975 and at the corresponding date in each year 1952 to 1974.
Date |
Number |
28th November,1952 |
68,850 |
27th,, 1953 |
67,128 |
26th,, 1954 |
61,331 |
25th,, 1955 |
54,426 |
30th,, 1956 |
71,157 |
29th,, 1957 |
67,301 |
28th,, 1958 |
65,341 |
27th,, 1959 |
62,273 |
25th,, 1960 |
50,966 |
24th,, 1961 |
47,987 |
30th,, 1962 |
48,375 |
29th,, 1963 |
49,928 |
27th,, 1964 |
51,526 |
26th,, 1965 |
53,435 |
25th,, 1966 |
50,843 |
24th,, 1967 |
55,732 |
29th,, 1968 |
57,553 |
28th,, 1969 |
57,373 |
27th,, 1970 |
61,758 |
26th,, 1971 |
67,942 |
24th,, 1972 |
70,150 |
30th,, 1973 |
64,113 |
29th,, 1974 |
81,401 |
28th,, 1975 |
108,333 |
†The comparability of the figures is affected by (1) the introduction of the Social Welfare Act, 1952 which came into full operation on 5th January, 1953 (2) the change in the content of the Live Register introduced in January, 1966 (3) the extension of the duration of Unemployment Benefit payments from 156 to 312 days from 1st January, 1968 (4) the introduction from 1st October, 1970 of the payment of retirement pensions at Post Offices to insured persons who have reached the age of 65, who have retired from employment and who satisfy certain contribution conditions (5) the lowering of the age limit for eligibility for Old Age pensions from 70 to 69 years in July, 1973, to 68 years in July, 1974, and to 67 years from April, 1975.