asked the Taoiseach (1) the number of unemployment assistance and unemployment benefit claimants in County Donegal; and (2) the total number of such claimants for the whole country.

: Claimants for unemployment benefit and applicants for unemployment assistance consist of persons who are on the live register, persons on systematic short-time working, persons aged 65 years and over and small holders.

The number of claimants for unemployment benefit and applicants for unemployment assistance who were registered at local employment offices situated in County Donegal on 26 September 1980 were as follows:

The corresponding totals for the State as a whole on the same date were:

: Could the Minister of State confirm that County Donegal has 3¼ per cent of the population of the country, 3¾ per cent of the labour force and 7¾ per cent of the unemployed? The unemployment rate is more than double that of the rest of the country, and in the last year it has risen by 1,200——

: A question please, Deputy.

: It has risen by less than the national average, if that is any consolation.

: To double the national average. That is not much consolation for the people in Donegal.

: Is the Minister of State aware that when Deputy O'Donoghue was Minister he promised publicly to put people to work——

: A relevant question, please, Deputy.

: ——even if it was to dig holes and fill them again? Could he not now put the unemployed in Donegal to fill the potholes in every road——

: A relevant question, please.

: I asked if he would put the unemployed filling the potholes of Donegal because we cannot drive on those roads at present.

: This is a statistical question.

: The unemployment figures in Donegal should be treated responsibly by the Opposition. It is not a joke.

: It is not a joke that we have potholes on all our roads but nobody to fill them——