Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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341. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department has examined the unemployment situation throughout the country with a view to identification of particular areas or black spots indicating higher than average levels of unemployment; the extent to which she expects to be in a position to address issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33527/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department has local offices in all areas of the country and maintains records of jobseekers on a local office basis. Statistics relating to the number of job seekers at each local office are monitored on a continuous basis and are available on the CSO website. A regional distribution of live register statistics is also provided at Table 5 of the monthly CSO live register statement. Resources are allocated to and through our local offices based on the number of unemployed people in each area. By definition, therefore, this will result in the resources of the Department being concentrated in areas of high unemployment.