asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of the last three insurance years the total amount paid in benefits under (a) the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and (b) under the Unemployment Assistance Acts, and (c) the total cost of administering these Acts.

The reply is being circulated in the form of a tabular statement with the Official Report.

As the accounts are kept on a monthly basis, figures are not available for the insurance year which commences on the first Monday in October each year.

As regards (a) and (b) of the question, the following figures show the position in respect of the periods from 1st October to 30th September:—

As regards (c) of the Deputy's question, accurate information is not available as the administration of the Unemployment Assistance Acts and the Unemployment Insurance Acts is combined with that of the Labour Exchanges Acts, etc., and other functions of the Employment Branch of my Department, and a reliable allocation of the cost of administering them is, therefore, not available. The amounts appropriated in aid of the Unemployment Insurance and Unemployment Assistance Vote in respect of the cost of administration of the Unemployment Insurance Acts are as stated.