asked the Taoiseach the number of people under 25 who are at present unemployed.

The most up to date information on the number of people under 25 who are unemployed is available from the monthly live register statement which on 30 October 1981 included 35,501 persons under 25 years of age. The live register does not include all persons seeking regular work for the first time. No statistics are available for the number of persons under 25 years of age who are seeking work but are not included on the live register.

Does the figure include the number of unemployed people who have registered for unemployment assistance but who have not qualified because of the means test?

Yes, the register would include them.

No, it would not.

Is the Minister saying that 35,500 is the number of people under 25 on the live register?

The number of people under 25 who are seeking work?

Those who are on the live register and are seeking work.

Yes.

But those people referred to by Deputy Sherlock would not be on the register.

If they were not qualified to go on the register they would not be on it.