asked the Taoiseach (a) the total number of people unemployed in June, 1977; and if he will express this number as a percentage of the total work force in June, 1977; and (b) the total number of people unemployed in December 1982; and this number as a percentage of the total work force in December 1982.

The number of persons on the live register on 24 June 1977 was 103,536 representing some 8.8 per cent of the labour force. On 31 December 1982 there were 179,867 persons on the live register, representing 14 per cent of the labour force.