andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach the percentage reduction in the number of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the years 1922-1932, 1932-1942, 1942-1952 and 1952 to the most recent available date, and the total over-all percentage reduction in the number of persons employed in agricultural production between 1922 and the most recent available date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Employment Statistics.
7.
It is assumed that the Deputies are seeking information relating to the total number of persons engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing. These include farmers and farmers' relatives assisting on home farm, whether or not employed in the sense of receiving regular wages for their work. The Censuses of Population are the basic sources of these data. Annual estimates have been prepared, for recent intercensal years but similar estimates for the years prior to 1946 are not available. It is not, therefore, possible to give the information required by the Deputies for each of the periods specified.
It can, however, be stated that during the ten years between 1926 and 1936 the total number of persons at work in agriculture, forestry and fishing declined by 6.0 per cent., while between 1936 and 1946 there was a reduction of 7.5 per cent. and for the succeeding ten year period (1946-56) an estimated fall of 21.6 per cent.
For the period 1952-1959 (covering seven years), which is the latest period for which information is available, the estimated percentage decline in the relevant total was 13.0 per cent., while for the whole period 1926-59 the fall amounted to 35.6 per cent.