asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the industrial work force is now below the level obtaining in 1968; and if, in view of the decline in GNP for 1975, he will indicate the prospects for growth in GNP in 1976.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - GNP Growth Prospects.
16.
As regards the first part of the Deputy's question, the total number in industrial employment is calculated once a year, at mid-April. The latest date for which full information is available is mid-April, 1974, when numbers in industrial employment were 21,000 higher than at mid-April, 1968. Such provisional information as is available for mid-April, 1975, suggests that, while there was a decline from a year earlier, total industrial employment was still higher than at mid-April, 1968. In transportable goods industries, which form the major part of total industry, the preliminary figure for employment in the third quarter of 1975, the most recent date for which information is available, was 199,800 compared with 196,100 in the corresponding period of 1968.
The second part of the Deputy's question was dealt with both in the pre-budget publication, "Economic Background to the Budget", which was published by my Department last Monday and will be further dealt with in my Budget statement later today.
According to a recent report of the Confederation of Irish Industry the figure now is below that of 1968 and getting worse.
If one is taking the total amount, including agriculture, the Deputy would be right, but if one is taking only conventional industry the Deputy would be wrong.