asked the Minister for Finance if the number of persons in the self-employed category has fallen by approximately 45,000 in the last ten years and, if so, the reasons for this decline.
Written Answers. - Self-Employed Category Numbers.
14.
While there are no published figures for the number of self-employed compared with ten years ago, I would not dispute the Deputy's assessment of the decline in their number over this period. The reason for the decline is the secular fall in the number engaged in agriculture.