asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the numbers unemployed in Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire at the latest available date and on the corresponding date last year.

Registered unemployed in Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire on the 4th May, 1957, the latest date for which the information is available, numbered 17,860 and 1,030, respectively. On the corresponding date last year they numbered 12,802 and 686, respectively.

In view of the suffering that is being endured by these unemployed men and their families, will the Minister consider increasing the paltry 1/– which has been given to social assistance recipients under the Budget?