asked the Taoiseach if he will state in accordance with figures available on 31 October 1983 or at the most recent date for which figures are available; (a) the number of people unemployed in the country; and (b) the number unemployed who are under 25 years, indicating male and female; and (c) in the case of (b) the number unemployed for one, two, three, four and more than four years.

Dún Laoghaire): On 25 November 1983, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 199,567 persons on the live-register of whom 61,531 — 38,515 males and 23,016 females — were under 25 years of age.

A special analysis of the live register by age and duration of continuous registration is carried out twice a year in April and October. The latest date for which figures are available is 22 April 1983. On this date, there were 188,807 persons on the live register of whom 55,732 — 36,333 males and 19,399 females — were under 25 years of age. The analysis shows that 10,242 persons — 7,399 males and 2,843 females — under 25 years of age had been continuously registered for 53 weeks or longer.

In this analysis the number of persons who have been continuously on the register for two, three, four or more years is not separately identified.

Will the Minister of State accept that the figures he has given disclose a serious situation? Will he state the intention of the Government by way of launching programmes to cut down on the number of unemployed?

The Deputy will realise that his question is a statistical one and that questions of policy——

I asked him to make a statement on the matter.

The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach answers statistical questions. He does not answer questions on policy which would be much more appropriate to other Ministers, perhaps arising out of the information the Deputy has just got.

I appreciate that, but will the Minister of State not accept that it is a very serious situation when more than 61,000 people under the age of 25 years are on the live register? This is nearly 30 per cent of the total unemployed. On the basis of the statistics available to him, will the Minister of State not accept we are facing a threat——

I must explain to the Deputy that questions on policy or questions to remedy a situation disclosed by statistical questions are not matters that should be addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach. I cannot allow such questions.

Will the Minister of State give an estimate of the additional numbers who are signing for unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance but who are not on the live register? This number must be added to the 199,000 unemployed.

(Dún Laoghaire): I have not that information available but if the Deputy tables a question I will give him an estimate of the number. I do not accept what he has said.

Is the number in the region of 20,000?

(Dún Laoghaire): I do not know. If I gave the Deputy a number it would be a guess.

Has the Minister of State any figures in relation to the number of small-holders who are signing?

(Dún Laoghaire): I suggest that that is a separate question. However, if a question on the matter is put down I will answer it.

Does the Minister agree that there are a number of unemployed in training who are not included in that figure? If they were included what would be the number of unemployed, as I believe there are about 8,000 people in training?

(Dún Laoghaire): If any other Deputy has a question of a statistical nature, I will try and get that information for him. The question of training programmes is a matter for the Department of Labour.

Was the question of the number of people on training programmes submitted? If so, it seems to have been excluded from the answer.

(Dún Laoghaire): The questions I have been asked were of a statistical nature and supplementary questions have been asked which involve other Departments.

I propose to take Questions Numbers 3 to 15 together.

I object to the Minister taking all these questions together because they deal with separate subjects such as the farm modernisation scheme, the western package and pre-development schemes. These subjects were discussed separately before the summer recess and we should be allowed time now to discuss them separately.

I am sure Deputy Leonard appreciates that the Chair has no control over how questions are answered.

(Limerick West): With respect, will you have control over the amount of time you will allow to ask supplementaries.

Yes, I certainly will.