asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of agricultural (social insurance) stamps sold by his Department in the financial years 1954-55 and 1955-56.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Insurance Stamp Sales.
The weekly rate of contribution applicable to male agricultural workers is 2/6. The numbers of insurance stamps of this denomination which were sold in the financial years mentioned in the question were: 1954-55, 3,270,717; 1955-56, 3,282,437. The figure for the latter year is provisional and may be subject to slight adjustment.
It is not possible to state the number of stamps sold in the years in question in respect of female agricultural workers as the 2/- stamp applicable to them applies also to other classes of insured persons such as female workers in private domestic employment. From the information available, however, it is estimated that the number of stamps sold in respect of female agricultural workers in the years in question would not exceed 30,000 per year.