asked the Taoiseach the proportion of all employees in Ireland who are paid either by the Government or by a State body.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Employees.
5.
It is estimated that the proportion of employees who are paid either by the Central Government or by a State body was about 19½ per cent in 1971. If employees of local authorities are included the proportion is estimated at 26½ per cent.
The term "State body" is not well defined and there may be some doubt as to whether or not certain bodies should be so classified. The definition has been taken as including autonomous bodies to which the Government or Ministers appoint directors, et cetera, and whose staff are not civil servants.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary got figures for the previous years and could he tell us what the trend has been in the past few years?
No, the figures I have here were mostly compiled from data relevant to the year 1971.