Unemployment data and Donegal’s rate
Cluskey asked about the distinction between “employed” and “gainfully employed,” while Blaney challenged the Minister’s ability to assess unemployment without labour-force figures and asserted Donegal’s rate was 16%. The Minister said he had provided the available information and regretted the unemployment; Blaney called the reply inadequate and said he would raise the matter on the Adjournment.
: How can the Minister honestly give figures for a net increase in the number of unemployed when he does not know how many are employed? When will these figures be available? Is there any significance in the fact that they are not available at the moment? Is it not a fact that in Donegal we have the highest percentage of unemployment in the county, not new but increasing?
Comment on this
: Unemployment anywhere is not acceptable to the Government. We are trying very hard to give information on this point and at the same time to provide employment. I have given the Deputy all the information I have.
Comment on this
: The reply is ridiculous and in view of that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
