Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 211: To ask the Taoiseach if the live register figure for County Donegal is at its lowest point in over ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30205/05]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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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 local office. The most recent information available is for September 2005. 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. In addition, 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 County Donegal for the period 1995 to 2005 as requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table. The September 2005 figure is the lowest figure in the period since January 1995: