asked the Taoiseach the number of persons on the live register at local employment offices for the week ended 10th October, 1975; and the numbers for the corresponding weeks in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974.

The numbers on the live register at local offices on the 10th October, 1975, was 103,836. The figures for the corresponding dates in earlier years were:—

8th October, 1971, 56,912; 13th October, 1972, 67,287; 12th October, 1973, 61,336; 11th October, 1974, 71,561.

The 1971 figure was affected by the operation of an employment period order.