39 Mr. Reynolds asked the Taoiseach the number of persons registered as unemployed in each town in County Longford on the latest date for which figures are available and on the same date in 1996. [7088/97]

Definitive statistics on the level of unemployment are based on the labour force survey. Unfortunately, LFS results are not available for towns or catchment areas of social welfare offices.

The monthly live register figures include data on claimants of unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance and other registrants classified by local office of registration. However, the live register is not an accurate indicator of the level of unemployment. The numbers of persons signing on the live register at the Longford town social welfare office was 2,367 at the end of January 1997, compared with 2,379 in January 1996. The Longford town office is the only local office in County Longford.