asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has figures available to him stating the number registered as unemployed within the administrative county of County Westmeath for the year ended 5 April last; and if figures are available for the year ended April 1980.

The number of persons registered as unemployed in County Westmeath on 26 March 1982 was 2289 and on 28 March, 1980, 1259.

These are the nearest dates to 5 April in 1982 and 1980 for which the statistics sought are available.