asked the Taoiseach the present status of the most recent household budget inquiry.
Written Answers. - Household Budget Survey.
138.
Fieldwork on the most recent large scale national household budget survey commenced in October, 1972, and terminated in March, 1974. Completed returns were received in respect of approximately 8,000 urban and rural households. The relevant statistical data required for the household budget analysis has now been transferred on to punch cards and the computer validation of these data is progressing. Programming for the computer print-out of results is in hands and it is expected that these results will become available in the second half of 1975.
On the termination of the large scale survey of small scale urban household budget survey was initiated in April, 1974, on a continuing basis. It is intended that this survey will each year cover a sample of approximately 2,000 urban households. The primary purpose of this smaller survey is to produce up-to-date information on consumer expenditure patterns on a regular continuing basis and to indicate when these patterns have changed sufficiently to justify the cost of conducting a further large scale survey on a national basis.