asked the Taoiseach the number of people on the live register for building and construction at mid-January, 1975, and mid-January, 1976; and the increase, actual and as a percentage, in that period.

2.

asked the Taoiseach the number of people on the live register at mid-January, 1975, and mid-January, 1976; and the increase, actual and as a percentage, in that period.

3.

asked the Taoiseach the number of people engaged in the bricks, tiles, artificial building materials and cement industry on the live register at mid-January, 1975, and mid-January, 1976; and the increase, actual and as a percentage, in that period.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together. The total number of persons on the live register on 17th January, 1975, was 98,300 while the total number on the register on 16th January, 1976, was 117,038. This represents an actual increase of 18,738 or 19.1 per cent over the period involved.

The number of persons from the bricks, tiles, artificial building materials and cement industries who were on the live register on the same dates were 470 and 491 respectively. The actual increase for those industries was thus 21 or 4.5 per cent.

The number of persons from the building, contracting and works of construction industries who were on the live register on these dates were 18,275 and 24,699 respectively. This represents an actual increase of 6,424 or 35.2 per cent.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary perturbed by the fact that there has been a higher percentage increase in unemployment in the building and construction industry than there has been in the general unemployment situation particularly as the building and construction industry is the one industry capable of providing new employment?

The Deputy is entering on an area of policy which would be a matter for the appropriate Minister.

The Minister might like to answer.

I will, tonight.

What about the 130,000?

Order.