Vol. 183 No. 13
I move:
That a sum not exceeding £99,990 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1961, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Central Statistics Office.
Could the Minister give an explanation of the increase under subhead E? It is very big.
It is the agricultural census.
I realise it is the agricultural census. I want the Minister to indicate whether it is entirely additional work or whether it is any cost arising because part of the work formerly carried out by the Garda Síochána is being carried out by special enumerators. I understand there was some suggestion that there would be a change in the method of taking the census, quite apart from the actual census being taken this year. I should like some indication in that respect.
The Central Statistics Office Vote which the Minister for Finance has to introduce but for which the Taoiseach is responsible contains a substantial increase. If that increase is reflected in any way in increased statistical information, we shall all be only too delighted, particularly if it is made available earlier. I am not casting any aspersions on the services we get, which are excellent. However, for obvious reasons, they are considerably behind the services available in other countries.
It is impossible to estimate trends as quickly as we should like, if we have not adequate statistics. Anything that can be done to improve the Central Statistics Office in that respect would be welcomed on this side of the House. I wonder if the Taoiseach, since his speech on the Budget, has taken the trouble to understand the meaning of statistics. On the occasion in question, he announced he did not understand the meaning of the statistics issuing from his own Department.
A 100 per cent. agricultural census will be taken this year. I think it was only one-third in other years. That, coupled with the fact that Garda centres are decreasing, means that civilian enumerators have to be employed. The Garda are doing some of the work but not as much as heretofore.
Who appoints the civilian enumerators in the place of the Gardaí?
The Director of Statistics appoints them, on the recommendation of the Garda.
May I take it that the ordinary members of the Garda Síochána or the local superintendent make the recommendations or is an advertisement published or is there an application by people for such jobs?
I understand that the chief superintendent makes the recommendation to the Director but he in turn gets his advice from the local sergeant.
