asked the Taoiseach the average weekly income in 1966 of those engaged (a) on the land and (b) in industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural and Industrial Earnings.
1.
The average weekly earnings of industrial workers engaged in transportable goods industries was £11 8s 7d in the year ended September, 1966, the latest period for which the data are available. This figure is derived from the data on weekly earnings collected in the quarterly industrial inquiries.
No comparable series exists in respect of agricultural activity, for which the information available is in a different form. In 1966 it is provisionally estimated that total income arising in agriculture, excluding land annuities, was about £157 million; this covers wages and salaries of employees and income from self employment and other trading income in agriculture, as defined in the national accounts. The estimated number of persons whose principal occupation was in agriculture in 1966 was 323,000. These two aggregates which are not strictly comparable in scope and coverage, yield an average of about £9 7s per week. It should be kept in mind however that both the estimates of agricultural income and of employment are very tentative as they are based on incomplete information and may have to be revised substantially when fuller returns are available, particularly the results of the January, 1967 Livestock Enumeration and the occupations figures from the 1966 Census of Population.
Surely the Taoiseach is aware that the income of those engaged on the land is decreasing? Is the Taoiseach aware that when he was Minister for Finance last April, he made a promise to this House that if the gap widened, the Government would take measures to compensate the farmers for the widening of that gap?
So we did, in July, and the Deputy voted against the legislation.
Is the Taoiseach aware that since July the income of the farmers has dropped by, it is reckoned, £4 million?
That does not arise on Question No. 1.
It certainly does. The Taoiseach made the promise. The farmers' income has dropped.
The Deputy said all that last November. It is like a gramophone record.
What do the Government intend to do about increasing their income?