asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the recent criticisms in a magazine (details supplied) that Irish official statistics are inadequate, he has any proposals to improve the operation of the Central Statistics Office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Statistics Office.
1.
The Central Statistics Office are experiencing continuing difficulty in improving the timeliness of certain series on short-term trends particularly those relating to earnings, employment and production in industry. This is due basically to the delays in the return of information in sufficient volume from the business community.
Experiments of two kinds are under way within the CSO in an endeavour to improve the position. The first involves the use of field staff to speed up response by personal calls on business firms. The second aims where possible at producing overall estimates (without detailed sub-divisions) based on a minimum set of early returns.
However, the time lag in the availability of these economic indicators will continue until all business firms can be persuaded to send back the basic information promptly. There is a balance between timeliness and equality and even provisional figures must have a solid basis if they are to measure change.
Is the Minister of State aware that the article in the magazine referred to describes Ireland's official statistics as a national scandal and cites incidents of 177 Euro statistics where we have drawn a blank? We have been unable to provide half of the statistics sought. Does it not seem to the Minister that there is a need to revitalise the Department or else return it from the Taoiseach's Department to where it originally was, the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism?
There are some shortcomings in the CSO but I am convinced that the people there are doing their best to update the whole thing and make great improvements. They have already taken steps to improve matters. They are sending out field officers now to try to get those firms, who are not sending back their returns on time, to send them back quicker. This may succeed in stepping up the returns.
Could it be that the Statistics Office being so badly undermanned is the reason why we are so far in arrears?
I believe in some cases the offices are undermanned. There is a shortage of professional statisticians but the office are taking steps now to recruit more staff.
Can the Minister of State tell the House why the basis for the publication of the Live Register figures on unemployment was changed from once a week to once a month? These figures do not depend on the returns from firms but from local employment offices which are part of the State's responsibility.
This was in the pursuance of perfection, trying to improve matters.
Is the Minister sure it was not just trying to improve the look of matters and not having to give bad news. When we were in we had to give it every week.
(Interruptions.)
Is the Minister aware that the article was written by Deputy Dr. O'Donoghue, a Member of this House, and states that the last year for which full statistics are available is 1977? Would the Minister not agree that it must affect our forecasts for economic growth if we have statistics which are so out of date?
It is because the Coalition Government failed to hold a census.
(Interruptions.)
Is this the way we are going to start questions again today? A final supplementary from Deputy O'Toole.
What about the walking credibility gap over there?
These are statistical matters.
Is the Minister of State aware that there is an inter-Departmental committee in existence to look at those gaps and rectify them?
I am glad the Deputy raised that point of the inter-Departmental committee because I can tell Deputy Kelly that the change was made in the monthly and weekly returns on the recommendation of that committee.
What committee was that?
I have been here six months and I am making progress. The Deputy should wait and see what will have happened in a year or two.