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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 1947

Vol. 109 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Budget Inquiry.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in the compilation of the official itemised estimates of outlay for the new Family Budget Inquiry, Church dues will be included; and if so, if he will state how the amount of such contributions will be ascertained, and how the publication of such estimates is justified.

The purpose of a family budget inquiry is to ascertain the values (and, where applicable, the quantities) of the objects of family expenditure, in full detail in the first instance. The particulars will be ascertained by means of a printed family budget inquiry form on which the various items of expenditure will be distinguished. While the scheme of inquiry has not yet been worked out in detail, it may be stated that a large number of householders throughout the country, selected at random, will be asked to fill up the form for certain specified weeks during the period of inquiry. It would not be practicable, or desirable on statistical grounds, to publish the values of items of expenditure in full detail, so that, in many cases, the values of cognate items will be grouped under general headings, for instance, Church dues will be included in some general description which will also cover such matters as contributions to charity, etcetera.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, the Minister for Industry and Commerce indicated last week that it was intended to have Church dues included in the statistics. I think the inclusion of such dues would cause very grave concern to most people who are interested in religious liberty in this country. If, however, the proposal is to include Church dues under the heading of charity, it might not be open to such a serious objection.

The Deputy is making a speech.

I should like to ask the Minister if he is aware that there is a danger that information of that kind would be very unreliable, in fact, so unreliable as to be hardly worth compilation and might be misleading.

The Deputy is making a speech.

I think the Deputy will learn from the reply that the matter is under consideration.

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