asked the Taoiseach if the Government intend to introduce any changes in the method of compilation of the live register of unemployed; and, if so, the nature of the changes envisaged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Live Register.
1.
The question of unemployment statistics is under consideration by an Interdepartmental Study Group. An important aspect of the work of the group is an examination of the live register statistics with a view to recommending any changes which would improve the usefulness and relevance of the figures. Any recommendations which the group will make will be considered by the Government.
Would the Minister tell the House what terms of reference he has given to the interdepartmental group?
The terms of reference given are to examine the present range of unemployment statistics, in particular those derived from the live register, in the light of known requirements and to recommend any changes which may improve the usefulness and relevance of the figures. Consideration should be given to the coverage, form of analysis and frequency of compilation of each of the different series and to the possibility of improving existing methods of data collection and processing.
Could the Minister say what aspect of the present method the Government find undesirable or in need of change?
One could go into a great deal of detail in this regard, but the committee was set up at the beginning of 1976. It was not set up basically as a result of a Government directive. It arose out of a priority recommendation contained in the report of the Committee on Statistical Requirements and Priorities at that time.
But what aspect of the present method was it considered desirable to change?
I do not know what the thinking of the Government at the beginning of 1976 was which prompted the decision at that time. I have no record of it.
I am not asking the Minister for State what the thinking of someone else was.
The Deputy is, actually.
Is the Minister telling me the present Government have no mind or no thoughts on this at all?
The present Government have a mind of their own. What I am saying is that we are awaiting a report of an interdepartmental study group set up two years ago to make recommendations about the changes to which the Deputy refers in his question.
Would the Minister tell me then what aspects the present Government consider not be be acceptable?
The unreliability of the actual figures we are getting. We accept they are not reliable enough and we are very anxious and very hopeful that this interdepartmental study group will come up with some ideas as to how more reliable figures can be presented.
Am I to take it the Minister's last reply could be related to the figure of 160,000 unemployed, according to Fianna Fáil, when the live register showed a figure of 118,000?
Whether the Minister says it or not the Deputy will make his own of it.
It is not the view of the Government that the live register figure understates the true unemployment situation by about 50,000 people?
No.
Was not that the view of the party, now forming the Government, 12 months ago?
I think we can say the general view 12 months ago underscored it by about 30,000.
Would the Minister not accept that 12 months ago when the people were being told in advertisements that there were 160,000 without work the number on the live register at the time was less than 110,000 and may I not conclude from that that the present Government's view is that the relation between the live register and the true unemployment figure is a difference of about 50,000?
No.
If that is so why would the Government not re-activate this interdepartmental committee and get them to see how the figures can be made to reflect those 50,000 extra jobless? I suppose we will be lucky if they do not fiddle the figures.
Obviously the Deputy's Government spent four-and-a-half years fiddling them and did not get them right.
They are getting worse. Just six weeks left now before 5 July.
(Interruptions).
Order. Question No.2.