Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the latest Central Statistics Office data which shows that Tralee had higher live register figures in December 2006 than any other town here; the action he will take to address the problem; if he will visit the town soon to meet with interested parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2707/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the details of the Live Register for December, 2006, published by the Central Statistics Office on 12 January, 2007. The Live Register figures for County Kerry as a whole show a total of 6,793 in December 2006 compared to 6,650 in December 2005. These figures cover seven towns. The figure for Tralee is the biggest component — 3,098 in December 2006 as against 2,950 a year earlier. During 2007, the Industrial Training agency FÁS, will continue to provide services in the Tralee area through each of its four client services divisions.

While I am concerned at any increase in Live Register figures, it is important to point out that the Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey which is also published by the CSO. The unemployment rate for the South West Region in the last survey was 4.1%. This was below the national unemployment rate of 4.5%.

Notwithstanding this, the Industrial Development agencies are making every effort to attract industry and employment to Tralee. Indeed, I stressed the importance of this to the agencies during my visit to the town on 15 March, 2006.