asked the Taoiseach the number of claimants of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance in Dundalk town and Monaghan town; and the percentage of the labour force these represent, in each of the two towns.

Dún Laoghaire): I propose to circulate a tabular statement showing the numbers of persons on the live register at Dundalk employment exchange and Monaghan employment office on 28 March 1986, distinguishing claimants for unemployment benefit, applicants for unemployment assistance and others.

A special area of residence analysis of the live register is carried out in respect of the second last Friday of February, May, August and November. On 21 February 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 2,439 persons on the live register resident in Dundalk urban district and 457 resident in Monaghan urban district. A classification by type of claim is not available from this analysis.

Since current estimates of the total labour force in urban districts are not available it is not possible to calculate unemployment rates.

Following is the statement:

The following table shows the number of persons on the live register at Dundalk employment exchange and Monaghan employment office at 28 March 1986 and distinguishes unemployment benefit and assistance applicants and other registrants.

I do not want to give the wrong impression and we in the Border area agree that unemployment is high in Monaghan. However, in view of the substantial numbers unemployed in the Louth area, with particular reference to north Louth, would the Minister use his good offices in arranging for the same facilities to apply to the level of grants for County Louth as to other Border counties and to investigate this matter?

That is not in order for the Minister of State to investigate.

As there are 50 minutes remaining I intend allowing 25 minutes for questions addressed to the Minister for the Gaeltacht and 25 minutes for questions addressed to the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry.