asked the Taoiseach if in the compilation of unemployment figures any attempt is made to ascertain the total unemployment figure including school leavers and other categories not eligible for unemployment benefit or assistance.

The only regular up-to-date statistical information available on unemployment levels and trends is that provided by the weekly and other analyses of the live register. The live register covers all claimants for unemployment benefit, all applicants for unemployment assistance, except smallholders, and applicants for credited social welfare contributions, except those affected by a trade dispute.

Alternative sources of information only arise periodically in the form of household inquiries such as censuses of population and labour force surveys. In these inquiries the criteria for classifying persons as unemployed do not depend on the receipt of social welfare benefits or assistance and so they provide independent estimates for the period to which they relate.

Did the Parliamentary Secretary say it includes applicants for unemployment assistance?

That is correct.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that had a census of population been taken this year the figures which Deputy O'Connell seeks would be readily available?