asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether any estimate has been made, and the result of any such estimate, of the amount of money which may reasonably be expected to be available yearly for the next five years for the purpose of (i) increasing and improving agricultural production; (ii) increasing and improving industrial production, and (iii) the provision of housing, schools and other social equipment; and, if not, if he will take steps to have such an estimate made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Projected Expenditure on Production and Social Requirements.
No such estimate has been made and it is doubtful whether any attempt to do so would repay the time and labour required. The attempt would involve hazardous predictions, in respect of a period of five years, as to the essential requirements of the services mentioned by the Deputy, the other demands on the Government, and the resources available to meet the aggregate of public spending. Moreover, so many assumptions would have to be made in relation to supplies, shipping, foreign exchange, internal and external demand, price levels, incomes and savings, that any estimate of the kind suggested by the Deputy would necessarily be highly speculative and hedged round with numerous qualifications and reservations. Such an estimate would be of no value for practical purposes.