asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of carpenters unemployed in the country, and, further, the numbers of painters, bricklayers, and other skilled tradesmen and semi-skilled and other workers in the building trades at present unemployed.

The only information in the matter available in my Department is that relating to the numbers of persons registered at its local offices. I propose, therefore, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report a tabular statement showing by occupations normally appropriate to the building trade the number of persons so registered on the 8th November, 1952.

Following is the statement:—

NUMBERS of persons in the building trade occupations registered at Local Offices of the Department of Social Welfare on the 8th November, 1952.

NOTES:

(1) The figures contained in this statement may include persons normally employed in an industry other than the building trade, e.g., a carpenter employed in the agricultural machinery industry.

(2) The occupational classifications maintained at Local Offices do not permit of a more detailed analysis, e.g., plumbers, glaziers and gasfitters are grouped together.

(3) The figures for skilled workers on the Live Register usually include a substantial number of the handyman class.

Is the Minister aware that a very big number of these skilled building workers are leaving and emigrating? Is there any possible chance of doing something definite to get their work started again, considering the number of unemployed carpenters and other building workers in the City of Dublin at the moment?

There are as many employed now as a month ago or 12 months ago.

There are less working to-day in the building trade than there were 18 months ago.

Of course.