asked the Taoiseach the number of young people under the age of 25 presently unemployed in Ireland.

The most recent source of information on unemployed persons classified according to age groups is the 1977 labour force survey. The results from this survey show that there was an estimated 42,200 unemployed persons under 25 years at the end of April of that year, of which 14,500 were seeking regular work for the first time.

Would the Minister consider that in the compilation of unemployment statistics an age breakdown should be included in each week as a matter of course?

That issue is at present being examined by an interdepartmental group who are shortly to report back to me. I have already indicated that.

Would the Minister then be in favour of such?

Yes.