Access to local unemployment figures
The Minister said local live-register figures are available from the CSO after the national total is issued and are never embargoed, though employment offices are instructed to refer press queries to Department headquarters. O’Keeffe alleged Bandon Opinion was denied figures after publishing criticism and sought a direction to ensure access; the Minister offered help, while saying he was unaware of the incident and of difficulties faced by Deputies seeking figures.
asked the Taoiseach if he will outline Government policy in regard to the supplying of local unemployment figures to the local press and the circumstances, if any, in which these figures are placed under embargo.
Comment on this
The live register is compiled from returns made by local employment offices to the Central Statistics Office and the figures for individual offices are available on request from the Central Statistics Office once the aggregate national live register total for the relevent reference date has been issued. There are no circumstances in which these figures are placed under embargo.
Comment on this
May I take it from the Minister's reply that the figures are available to the local press on request to the local employment office?
Comment on this
This question may have arisen as a result of a query from the local press to one of the local employment offices. The staff of these offices have standing instructions to refer queries from the press to the Department of Social Welfare headquarters in Dublin. The Department are not specifically aware of any recent query.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that in west Cork the newspaper called Bandon Opinion had been getting the figure from the local employment exchange for a long period but having published a critical article about unemployment they were told that figures would no longer be made available to them? Would the Minister confirm that this is not Government policy and that figures should be issued to the local press, whether or not the press is critical of the Government?
Comment on this
Certainly we will do anything to help. While the local employment offices supply the basic data, the responsibility for national compilation and publication of statistics is a matter for the CSO.
Comment on this
If I give the details of this incident to the Minister, will he ensure that a direction is issued that figures will be made available in future?
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that when a Member of this House telephones an employment office for the employment figure, the information is not readily forthcoming? Apparently instructions have been given that people should seek that information from Dublin. Does the Minister agree with that policy or will he take steps to have such information available to Deputies when they wish?