asked the Taoiseach the number on the live register at an appropriate date in January and June in each year since 1960.

I propose to circulate a tabular statement setting out the information requested by the Deputy.

Following is the statement:

Number of persons on the live register on the last Friday of January and June in each year since 1960.

Note: It should be borne in mind that changes made in the administration of the social welfare regulations and other changes in the coverage of the live register affect the comparability of these figures over such a long period of years.

The principal considerations which affect the comparability of the figures are:

(a) The figures for the period from 1966 to 1982 exclude persons on systematic short-time and persons aged 65 years and over whereas such persons are included in the figures for earlier years.

(b) The conditions under which persons are eligible for social insurance cover have been changed from time to time.

(c) Following the introduction of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1965, smallholders were excluded from the live register as from January 1966.

(d) The operation of employment period orders for the period from 1960 to 1966 and again in 1971 excluded certain persons from the receipt of unemployment assistance between March and November in each of these years.

(e) The conditions which applied to single women and widows who were applicants for unemployment assistance were relaxed from 1 October 1978.

10.