asked the Taoiseach the estimated number of people engaged in agriculture who left the land during the past year; and the estimated total number who left the land in the past ten years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment in Agriculture.
4.
The estimated number of persons at work in agriculture is prepared as part of the annual labour force estimates. These are not yet available for 1966. However, a preliminary estimate of the number of males engaged in agriculture, based on the sample of the returns made at the June, 1966 agricultural enumeration shows a drop of 7,000 below the corresponding 1965 level.
In 1955 the estimated number of persons at work in agriculture was 435,000. For 1965 the estimated figure of 330,000 was 105,000 below the 1955 level. The 1965 figure is subject to revision when the relevant results of the 1966 Census of Population become available.
In view of the fact that about 105,000 people have been driven off the land in the past ten years, I should like to know has the Taoiseach any plan or policy to help the people to stay on the land, or is he waiting until they are all driven off the land through neglect by the present Fianna Fáil Government and the Minister against Agriculture?
The Deputy has a question addressed to the Minister on these lines today which will be answered.