asked the Taoiseach if he will state the numbers of persons engaged in manufacturing industry as returned in the Census of Industrial Production and in the Census of Population for 1926, 1951, and 1956; and if he will further state the reasons for any discrepancies between the two sets of figures.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment in Manufacturing Industry.
The term "manufacturing industry" was not used either in relation to the Census of Population or the Census of Industrial Production prior to the year 1951 so that some degree of approximation is necessary in re-assigning industries to conform with this heading. The number of persons at work in manufacturing industry as returned at the Census of Population, 1926, was 120,400, while in 1951 the corresponding figure was 184,194. Statistics relating to industry were not compiled in respect of the Census of Population, 1956, but it is estimated that the total number of persons in manufacturing industry in that year was 187,000. Persons engaged in manufacturing industries covered by the Census of Production numbered 60,300 in 1926 and 140,800 in 1951, the corresponding estimated figure for 1956 being 142,900. The two sets of figures must be expected to differ for the following reasons:—
(a) While the Census of Population covers the entire working population the Census of Industrial Production extends only to businesses with three or more persons (including working proprietors) engaged.
(b) In the case of the Census of Population each person is required to state his principal occupation and the business in which he is engaged. On the other hand a single Census of Industrial Production return covers a number of workers and relates to average numbers employed in the firm over a period. It is possible, particularly in the case of casual, part-time or outside piece workers, that although persons are shown as employed in a particular industry at the Census of Production, it is not the business in which they are principally engaged, with the result that they are not classified to that industry for Census of Population purposes.
(c) The Census of Population relates to a single date whereas the Census of Industrial Production relates to average employment over a period.