asked the Taoiseach the total number of persons, including smallholders, in receipt of unemployment benefit and assistance on the 21st April, 1976.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.
1.
asked the Taoiseach the total number of persons, including smallholders, registered at employment offices at 21st April, 1976.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The total number of persons registered at employment offices on 23rd April was 145,663. This is a larger figure than the live register total of 116,373 for the same date because it includes, in addition (i) smallholders who are applicants for unemployment assistance—numbering 29,135; (ii) applicants for credited social welfare contributions due to trade disputes and persons signing to obtain seasonal work—numbering 155.
The present composition of the live register was decided in 1965 and the figures have been compiled in their present form since January, 1966. The live register total for 23rd April consisted of:— (i) claimants for unemployment benefit—numbering 63,501; (ii) applicants for unemployment assistance, other than smallholders— numbering 47,478; (iii) others—comprising mainly applicants for credited Social Welfare contributions other than those affected by trade disputes —numbering 5,394.
In reply to the second question put down by the Deputy the total number of persons, including smallholders, in receipt of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance on 23rd April was 128,333.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell me approximately how many smallholders have been precluded from assistance because of the recent decision of the Minister for Finance?
I cannot.
Would I be correct in saying that there are approximately 3,000?
I would only be speculating. It is a separate question of which I would need notice.
Would it represent 2,000 to 3,000?
I will offer a comment on it tomorrow.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if school leavers are included in those figures and, if so, could he give the number?
A very small number of school leavers are included in the total—83. The reason for that is that the conditions which would attract school leavers onto the register apply to a very small fraction of them only.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary got the figures for school leavers unemployed?
No, I have not. I would be merely guessing at them but it is not the case—as the Deputy has alleged—that every single school leaver in the country from last year has not got a job.