asked the Taoiseach the number of widows with dependent children; and if he can state the number of these who find it necessary to take up employment in order to support such children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Widows with Dependent Children.
2.
While the precise information required by the Deputy is not available, it may be possible to obtain an indication of the order of magnitude of the numbers involved from the following considerations:
At the 1966 Census of Population the total number of widows aged under 55 years was 17,827 and it may be presumed that the great majority of widows having dependent children would fall into this category.
The number of widows under 55 years of age who were gainfully occupied in 1966 was 8,030. Of this number, approximately 3,550 were in agricultural occupations and 4,480 were in non-agricultural occupations.