Written answers

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Department of Social Protection

Departmental Statistics

5:00 pm

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Social Protection of the 140,000 persons that she has stated left the live register to take up work last year, the number that took up full-time work, the number that took up part-time work; the number that took up education; the number that transferred to other social welfare payments; and the number that left the country. [11878/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, there are 439,422 signing on the Live Register at present. Over 88,000 of these are employed for part of the week. Another 31,000 are signing for PRSI credits only and do not receive a payment. The total number of people on the Live Register receiving a payment in respect of a full week of unemployment is under 285,000.

The total exceeded 400,000 for the first time in June 2009 and has remained above that level since then. While the overall number of people on the Live Register has been relatively stable at the current very high level for a considerable time, it is important to note that it is not the same individual people who make up that total.

There is a significant degree of movement on and off the Live Register each month and as a result, just over half of those on the Live Register have been signing on for less than twelve months.

Despite the economic downturn, a total of 143,230 people left the Live Register in 2011 to take up work. A breakdown of this number between those who took up full time or part-time employment is not available.

In addition to these numbers, there were 29,371 closures to education, training or employment placement recorded in 2011. This total does not include the 18,000 people who were formerly on the Live Register but who are now availing of the Back to Education Allowance scheme.

There were 21,895 transfers from the Live Register to other social welfare schemes in 2011 while in another 16,251 cases, claimants closed their claims as they were going abroad. This means that in addition to the 143,000 who left to take up work a further 67,517 left for education, training, other social welfare schemes or to move abroad.

The continuing high level of unemployment and the risk of extensive long-term unemployment are both completely unacceptable. The Government is determined to do everything in its power to reduce the numbers on the Live Register by maximising employment opportunities for all those seeking work. We are doing so not only because unemployed people are entitled to the dignity and rewards of work but also because it will help bring the national finances into balance and enable us to recover our economic sovereignty.

This is an enormous task, given the scale of the economic downturn. Some progress is being made, as Deputies will be aware from recent and very welcome new jobs announcements. Some comfort can also be drawn from the fact that so many people leave the Live Register to take up work, as it shows that in addition to the new jobs that are coming on stream, job vacancies are being filled even though the economy is still running below its potential.

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