asked the Taoiseach if he will state the number of persons on the live register at mid-May of the years 1951, 1952 and 1953 in each of the main industrial groups.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the desired information.

The following is the statement:—

NUMBER of persons on the live register at mid-May of the years 1951, 1952 and 1953 in each of the main industrial groups.

* The content of the figures in 1953 differs from that of those in the earlier years due to the legislative changes effected by the Social Welfare Act, 1952. While it is not possible to give a precise measure of the effect of the legislative changes in increasing the live register an investigation made in May, 1953, indicated that the increase at that date was in the region of 10,000.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state the number of persons on the live register in Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire for the latest available date and for the corresponding dates in 1951 and 1952 in each of the main industrial groups.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the desired information.

Following is the statement:-

NUMBER of persons on the live register at Dublin County Borough and Dún Laoghaire Borough Exchanges at mid-June of the years 1951, 1952 and 1953 in each of the main industrial groups.

* The content of the figures in 1953 differs from that of those in the earlier years due to the legislative changes effected by the Social Welfare Act, 1952. It is not possible to give a precise measure of the effect of the legislative changes in increasing the live register.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state the average number of persons who were on the live register of unemployment in the year 1947 and in the years 1950, 1951 and 1952.

The average of the number of persons on the live register at a date in the middle of each month in the year 1947 was 55,623. The corresponding figures were 53,415 for the year 1950, 50,453 for the year 1951, and 60,688 for the year 1952.

Arising out of that it would be interesting if the Parliamentary Secretary could give us the figures for 1948-1949?

That is a separate question.

If the Deputy puts down a question I will give him the information. I have the figures as a matter of fact.