Austin Deasy
Ceist:1 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach the latest unemployment figures available for Waterford city, Dungarvan and Lismore; and the way in which these figures compare with the figures for the same period in 1987.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Unemployment Statistics.
The number of persons on the live register in May 1994 was 6,926 for Waterford and 1,131 for Dungarvan. Separate figures for Lismore in 1994 are not available. The figures for Lismore are included with Waterford city following the closure of the Lismore local office in October 1991.
The corresponding live register figures for May 1987 were as follows: Waterford city, excluding Lismore, 5,328; Dungarvan, 1,082; Lismore 333.
It clearly indicates a considerable rise in the figures for Waterford city because the figure for Lismore would not be substantial. It is unsatisfactory that the Minister of State cannot distinguish between the figures for Lismore and Waterford city. Will he give an assurance that there will be a separate figure for Lismore?
I cannot give that assurance. Local employment and social welfare offices are a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare.
I will have to put a question to the Minister for Social Welfare and get his agreement. The district in question is approximately 50 miles from Waterford city and lumping the two figures together creates an anomaly. It does not give a true picture.
We now proceed to questions nominated for priority for which a rigid time limit of 20 minutes applies.