asked the Minister for Finance if, having regard to the official statistical information now available indicating an accelerated decline in employment in agriculture including forestry and fishing and a decline or, at best, stagnation since 1960 in the number of those employed in the other domestic sector, table 2, paragraph 27 of the Second Programme, he has caused the tentative figures of the 1970 projections of such employment to be revised; and the revised projections for 1970 in the (a) agriculture and (b) other domestic sectors.
Written Answers. - Employment In Agriculture.
63.
While employment in the industrial sector increased in 1964 at a rate consistent with the 1970 target of the Second Programme, the rate of decrease in agricultural employment was rather greater than was visualised in the Programme and employment in the services sector did not increase as anticipated. As a result the increase in total employment in 1964 was less than the annual rate envisaged in the Programme. This situation has been commented on in the report of the National Industrial Economic Council entitled "Comments on Department of Finance Review of Economic Progress in 1964 and Prospects for 1965".
The position is being kept under review but it would be premature at this stage to revise the 1970 projections.