asked the Taoiseach whether he is prepared to arrange for the publication every month beginning from the month of April next by the proposed central statistics office the following particulars in relation to the Government's new plans for afforestation, land reclamation and drainage (a) numbers of men directly employed by the Department of Agriculture on land reclamation and drainage in each county, and amount of wages paid; (b) amounts of direct grants made by the Minister for Agriculture to farmers for land reclamation and drainage in each county; (c) numbers of men employed on minor river drainage works in each county and amount of wages paid; (d) number of men employed by the forestry division in each county and amount of wages paid; and (e) number of acres acquired by the forestry division for planting purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation, Land Reclamation and Drainage.
The Government's decision to establish a central statistics office attached to my Department is in process of being carried out. Certain formalities, such as the making of Transfer Orders under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1939, require to be attended to. When the office has been formally established, which will, I anticipate, be at an early date, I will have the suggestion contained in the Deputy's question considered.
Can the Taoiseach give an assurance that before the 1st May such information would be made available by the central statistics bureau?
I think I could give an assurance to the Deputy that the information he is seeking would be available, but I cannot give an assurance as to source from which it would be available. It might be available from the Department of Agriculture. I am not sufficiently familiar with the scope of the statistics office at the moment to say whether this particular information would be appropriate for that Department or for the Department of the Minister concerned, but the information will be put at the disposal of the Deputy.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the publication in a periodical at short intervals of such information is essential if the public mind is to be set at rest concerning the twin evils of emigration and unemployment?
I fully appreciate that.