Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 9 Jul 1992

Vol. 422 No. 5

Written Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

164 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline (1) the numbers at present unemployed in the Dún Laoghaire constituency (2) the trends in unemployment figures since 1987 and (3) the cost to the State of maintaining these people on social welfare.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Unemployment statistics are compiled by reference to the local office from where the claims are administered, and the catchment area of a local office is not necessarily confined to the Dáil constituency in which it is situated. The numbers of persons registered as unemployed at the Dún Laoghaire local office are set out as follows:

Number of persons registered as unemployed at Dún Laoghaire Local Office — 1987 to date

Dec 1987	Dec 1988	Dec 1989	Dec 1990	Dec 1991	May 1992
6,579	6,225	5,896	5,967	6,718	6,994

NOTE: These statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office and are published in that organisation's "Live Register: Monthly Area Analysis".

Unemployment statistics are not maintained in a manner which would facilitate the provision of the cost data sought. However, the Deputy might find the following figures of assistance. These set out the estimated average annual expenditure on unemployment payments per 1,000 persons on the live register for the period 1987 to 1991.

Estimated Average Annual Expenditure per 1,000 Persons on the Live Register

Year	Expenditure
	(£m)
1987	2.61
1988	2.64
1989	2.78
1990	2.96
1991	3.10

John Bruton

Ceist:

165 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the cost to the State of maintaining the unemployed on social welfare in County Meath.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Unemployment statistics are compiled by reference to the local office from where the claims are administered rather than the area of residence, and the catchment area of a local office is not necessarily confined to a particular county. The numbers of persons currently registered as unemployed at the three local offices in County Meath are set out as follows:

Persons registered as unemployed at offices in County Meath, June 1992

Kells	Navan	Trim	Total
910	2,279	1,135	4,324

Source: Central Statistics Office.

Unemployment statistics are not maintained in a manner which would facilitate the provision of the cost data sought. However, the Deputy might find the following figures of assistance. These set out the estimated average annual expenditure on unemployment payments per 1,000 persons on the live register for the period 1987 to 1991.

Estimated Average Annual Expenditure per 1,000 Persons on the Live Register

Year	Expenditure
	(£m)
1987	2.61
1988	2.64
1989	2.78
1990	2.96
1991	3.10

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

166 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline (1) the total unemployment figure for County Limerick in June in each of the years between 1987 and 1991 and (2) the total social welfare costs for each of those periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Unemployment statistics are compiled by reference to the local office from where the claims are administered, and the catchment area of a local office is not necessarily confined to a particular county. The numbers of persons registered as unemployed in the three local offices situated in County Limerick are set out as follows:

Number of Persons Registered as unemployed in County Limerick, at end June

	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Kilmallock	1,325	1,346	1,376	1,282	1,406
Limerick	8,201	8,405	8,059	7,772	8,817
Newcastlewest	2,281	2,027	1,932	1,890	2,100
Total	11,807	11,778	11,367	10,944	12,323

NOTE: These statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office and are published in that organisation's "Live Register: Monthly Area Analysis".

Unemployment statistics are not maintained in a manner which would facilitate the provision of the cost data sought. However, the Deputy might find the following figures of assistance. These set out the estimated average annual expenditure on unemployment payments per 1,000 persons on the live register for the period 1987 to 1991.

Estimated Average Annual Expenditure per 1,000 Persons on the Live Register

Year	Expenditure
	(£m)
1987	2.61
1988	2.64
1989	2.78
1990	2.96
1991	3.10