asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the total cost of unemployment, including unemployment benefit and assistance, in each week from 29th September, 1956, to the nearest convenient date.

As the reply contains statistics, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the desired information in so far as it is available.

Following is the statement:—

The figures, which are provisional, do not include the cost of administration of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance. This cost is not available in respect of specific weeks.