Dáil Éireann - Volume 577 - 17 December, 2003

Written Answers. - Unemployment Levels.

Mr. Naughten Mr. Naughten

  103. Mr. Naughten asked the Taoiseach the CSO unemployment figures for County Roscommon in each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31683/03]

Ms Hanafin Ms Hanafin

  Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Ms Hanafin):The exact information as requested by the Deputy is not available. Statistics on employment and unemployment are compiled, at a regional level, from the Quarterly National Household Survey. The latest statistics show that there were 10,700 people classified as unemployed in the west region in the June to August quarter of 2003. The west region consists of County Roscommon, County Mayo and Galway city and county. Sub-regional statistics, of the kind requested by the Deputy, are not available from the Quarterly National Household Survey.

  Figures for the west region from 1997 to 2003, inclusive, from the 1997 Annual Labour Force Survey and for quarter two of the Quarterly National Household Survey from 1998 to 2003 are:

Number of persons (thousands) aged 15 years and over unemployed (ILO) in the West Region

The live register series gives a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit and other claimants registered with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Figures are published for each county and each local social welfare office. A breakdown by postal district is not available. The most recent information available is for November 2003. It should be noted that the live register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit. Statistics on unemployment are measured at regional level by the Quarterly National Household Survey. The exact area covered by each local office is not limited to the immediate locality of the particular office. For instance, in the Tallaght local office there may be registered, persons from the Blessington area.

  The live register figures for the county of Roscommon and the local offices of Boyle, Castlerea and Roscommon from January 1997 to November 2003 are set out in the following table:

Number of persons signing on the Live Register in the County of Roscommon

Number of persons signing on at Boyle local office

Number of persons signing on at Castlerea local office

Number of persons signing on at Roscommon Town local office

Dáil Éireann 577 Written Answers. Unemployment Levels.

Questions

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